Buchholz, PawSox, Handle Red Wings 11-1

PAWTUCKET- Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz was solid in his first rehab start for the PawSox, one of many positive signs to come out of Pawtucket’s 11-1 win over the Rochester Red Wings tonight before a sellout crowd at McCoy.

Buchholz felt good following his outing, the first since being placed on the 15-day DL with a broken nail on the middle figner of his right hand, suffered in a start May 12th at Minnesota.

“I felt good. I felt rested.” Buchholz said, “I got up in the zone early, was able to throw lower later. Overall it was a good game for me.”

Buchholz led off the game by walking Chris Basak. He was helped out by catcher Dusty Brown who threw Bsask out trying to steal second. Buchholz then settled down, getting Tommy Watkins to ground out to third and striking out Sergio Santos swinging.

In the second Buchholz got Brian Buscher to pop to short to start the inning. He then gave up a walk to Darnell McDonald. He finished the inning by forcing Garrett Jones to fly to tight and Randy Ruiz to pop up to the catcher.

Buchholz gave up a run in the third. With one out Jason Pridie laced a triple to right center. Basak drove him in with a single to right but was picked off trying to stretch the hit into a double.

Buchholz retired the side in order in the fourth striking out Santos and McDonald.

“After the fourth inning he had ten pitches left and he said, ‘let me use them.’’ said PawSox Manager Ron Johnson, “So it means he was feeling pretty good out there.”

Buchholz’ last batter was Garrett Jones, who led off the fifth with a double down the right field line. Hunter Jones came in to relieve Buchholz, retiring the side stranding Jones at second. Buchholz finished the game throwing 63 pitches, 38 for strikes. He gave up three hits, walking two and striking out three.

Buchholz’ future is still up in the air. He is scheduled to pitch again for Pawtucket Friday in Durham. It will be up to the Red Sox whether Buchholz will soon be returning to Boston or remain with the PawSox. The return of Bartolo Colon to the Boston rotation may go a long way in determining Buchholz’ fate.

“If I gotta stay (in Pawtucket) a little longer, so be it. I’ll be ready to go whenever they give me the call” Buchholz said.

The PawSox offense continues to thrive at home, banging out 11 hits. Chris Carter, Brandon Moss, Gil Velazquez, and Sean Danielson had two hits each for Pawtucket. Carter, Moss, and Dusty Brown homered. Brown and Danielson drove in three runs apiece.

The PawSox scored two runs in the bottom of the first on Carter’s sixth homer of the season, a two-run shot.

The PawSox scored two more runs run in the fourth. With one out Chad Spann struck out but made it all the way to second on a wild pitch by Brian Duensing. After Velazquez reached on an infield hit, Spann scored on a fielder's choice by Danielson. Danielson stole second and was driven home on a double to right center by Jeff Bailey.

Pawtucket scored four more times in the fifth, on a two run homer by Moss and a two-out, two run double by Danielson.

They added three more in the sixth on a three-run homer run onto the roof of the center field concession stand by Brown.

The PawSox are alone in second place in the IL North, one game behind Scranton Wilkes/Barre. The Yankees come to McCoy beginning with a holiday matinee (1:05pm) tomorrow. Jeff Karstens (0-1, 5.40 ERA) throws for SWB, opposed by Charlie Zink (5-2, 2.47 ERA) for Pawtucket.

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