Sox Split Day Night Double Header But Buchholz Leaves With Neck Tightness

As has been the story all year, Clay Buchholz was once again Boston’s stopper Saturday night. After the Sox got kicked around by the Angles in Saturday afternoon’s game in a 9-5 loss, Buchholz tamed the Halos as he has so many opponents this year to go 9-0 but his outing did have some cause for concern.

June 2, 2013; Bronx, NY, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Clay Buchholz (11) jumps over first baseman Mike Napoli (12) at first base on a hit by New York Yankees center fielder Brett Gardner (not pictured) during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

Buchholz left the game with two outs in the seventh with neck tightness. The nick up may have been aggravated by some athletic plays he had to make during the course of the game. In the fourth inning Buchholz fielded a grounder by Alberto Callaspo and awkwardly stumbled over the first-base bag as he took the throw and recorded the out. Nevertheless Buchholz’s allowed just six hits and two runs while walking one and striking out four to record his ninth victory of the season.

Although he was forced to leave the game, Buchholz exited with a 7-2 lead. In his first 12 starts of the season, Buchholz is 9-0 with a puny 1.71 ERA. Buchholz allowed two earned runs or fewer for the the 11th time in his 12 starts.

Buchholz 1.71 ERA is the lowest in the majors while his WHIP of 1.02 is the 12th lowest among major league pitchers and his .195 opponent batting average is seventh in the bigs as he continues to dominate.