Friday, August 14, 2009

Buzzsawed

Not much to say about Thursday afternoon's game and finale of the four-game set with the Tigers other than the Red Sox ran into a pitcher throwing some serious gas and got shutout, 2-0.

Justin Verlander was hitting 99 and 100 MPH from the beginning and by the time he departed after eight innings, he was still hitting 100, on his 122nd pitch. He allowed just four hits, and the Red Sox had golden opportunities to score runs in the first and third innings, but came away empty.

Clay Buchholz was terrific yesterday. It was probably his best start of the year, allowing just a run on an infield out in the fourth and a home run to Ryan Raburn in the seventh. He certainly pitched well enough for a win, but the Sox ran into a pitcher who just flat-out awesome yesterday.

Terry Francona rested Dustin Pedroia and J. D. Drew yesterday in anticipation for the start of the important three-game series with Texas tonight. The Sox are a half-game up on the Rangers in the Wild Card, as they won in Cleveland yesterday.The Red Sox begin a six-game road trip to Texas and Toronto. Needless to say they've got to make some hay over the next week.

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