Tigers Edge Red Sox 2-0! Avoid Being Swept In The Season Series!

Clay Buchholz did his job on the mound for his team.  He kept his team in the ballgame the entire seven innings he pitched.  Clay’s performance was magical and something very special to watch, I might add.  As he was locked in a pitcher’s duel all afternoon with Justin Verlander.  But as luck would have for Buchholz, the Boston Red Sox and their heavy hitting lineup gave him absolutely nothing in return.  As the Detroit Tigers left Fenway Park winning the finale of the four game series, 2-0. 

The victory by the Tigers not only helped them avoid a series sweep to the Sox.  It also helped them avoid being swept in the season series!  As the Sox and Tigers wrapped up their 2009 regular season play.  Which found the Sox on the winning end of the deal in 7 of their 8 meetings with the Tigers this year.

As great as Buchholz was Verlander was just slightly better, as he baffled the Sox line-up all afternoon.  He only allowed four hits scattered over his eight innings of work.  Verlander who improved to 13-6 on the year also struck out 8 batters.  He pretty much did a cake walk through the line-up as the Sox offense never really mustered anything.

Boston was able to make some noise in the first and third innings, as they had two men on base in each of those innings.  But when you have Jason Bay and David Ortiz who looked absolutely silly at the plate.  As they struck out each time, they were unable to capitalize on their scoring chances.  Which when you only manage to have four hits, you can’t afford not to capitalize on them, when you have the opportunity to do so.

The Sox hits were provided by Jacoby Ellsbury, Josh Reddick, who both had doubles.  While Victor Martinezchipped in with a pair of hits, both singles.  Sorry we can’t forget that Martinez also had his first stolen base in over 6 years, back in the first inning.  For a job well done behind the plate and also on the base-paths, with that stolen base I have to give you a well deserved BoSox Injections ATTA BOY VICTOR! 

After that it was pretty much smooth sailing for Verlander who went eight strong innings, while tossing 123 pitches on the day.  Buchholz’s only bad pitch came in the top of the seventh when he left a ball up in the zone to Ryan Raburn.  Which Raburn hit perfectly sending it deep and high into the Green Monster seats.  Which put the finishing touches on the Tigers 2-0 victory, which helped them avoid the sweeps.