After last night's slugfest/pitching debacle, the Sox needed a killer performance by their starter tonight and that performance they got with Clay Buchholz on the mound. After a somewhat rocky first inning where he gave up a few hits and a run, Buch settled down and went 8 strong, giving up only that first inning run in what was called by the good folks at NESN the best start by any Red Sox pitcher of the season so far.
That start was needed for two reasons, the most important of which was the severely depleted bullpen. Tito was forced to use almost the entire pen last night, save for RamRam, who pitched a gutsy 9th inning tonight, picking up the save in a one-run game. The second reason was that Jays pitcher Shaun Marcum was matching Buch in effectiveness, making Sox runs as hard to come by tonight as outs were last night. Marcum limited the Sox to one run over 7 innings, leaving the game tied at a run apiece until the 8th, when a pinch-hitting Mike Lowell walked in the go-ahead run off Toronto's closer Kevin Gregg.
Now, the Sox find themselves one game under .500, with a chance to pull even with a win tomorrow. In order to do that, however, Lester has to pitch like it's May 28th instead of April 28th, if you get my drift. The Sox have not yet won three games in a row this season and have yet to sweep a team. Win tomorrow and they do both.
LET'S GO RED SOX!!!!! GREAT JOB, CLAY!!!!
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