Another Rough Start On the Road

It was another rough outing for Clay Buchholz, as he dropped his fifth consecutive decision. He's now 2-7, as he gave up four runs in six innings as the Red Sox lost once again on the road, 4-3, to Kansas City. The Red Sox are now 24-33 away from Fenway.

Buchholz gave up a solo homer to Alex Gordon in the second, and then gave up three runs in the third, and it was capped by a hit batsman with the bases loaded. He has not won since his return from the DL and his last win was in early May against Tampa Bay.

Buchholz is a great talent and a top-of-the-line starter. But just not now. He's just doesn't appear to be ready to make that leap just yet.

The Sox opened the game with two quick runs off Gil Meche in the first, as Kevin Youkilis doubled in a run and David Ortiz grounded out with the second run scoring. (Papi after the game said that he felt a "click" in his recovering left wrist in the ninth inning. Pray that is nothing.) But Meche settled in and struck out 9 over the 6 innings he worked.

Kansas City held the lead until the ninth, when the Red Sox staged a rally. They loaded the bases and with two outs, Jason Bay hit a grounder that Alex Gordon and Tony Pena collided trying to field, scoring one run. But Sean Casey hit a liner to right that first appeared to me was going to fall in for at least two runs. But it held up long enough for Mark Teahen to catch and end the game.

The Red Sox lost no ground, as Tampa Bay lost to Cleveland. New York lost in Texas, but they may have suffered a bigger loss as Joba Chamberlain left the game with a stiff right shoulder after allowing two home runs and five earned runs. I remember hearing that his right shoulder and knee were both major concerns, and a possible disaster waiting to happen, as he had troubles with both at Nebraska. It was also a big reason he fell as far in the MLB draft that he did. If the Yankees lose Chamberlain for any stretch of time, their playoff chances maybe cooked.