Clay Buccholz No Hits Orioles
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by Romiezzo
After an amazing performance by Scott Baker yesterday, many people here have been wondering whether 23 year old, Clay Buchholz, could do it as well. In only his second start, he ended up doing something that many amazing pitchers have never accomplished in their entire career: pitch a no hitter. Buchholz pitched the 17th no-hitter in the history of the Boston Red Sox on Saturday night.
Before Saturday's historic 10-0 (landslide) win against the Baltimore Orioles, Red Sox manager Terry Francona spoke of a letdown in Buchholz's Triple-A performance after his Major League debut Aug. 17. For two weeks, the 6-foot-3 top prospect from Nederland, Texas, shuttled across upstate New York, losing his next two starts as a member of the Pawtucket Red Sox.
But, Francona added, "I think we still love this kid to death. And we're excited for a chance to run him out there and see how he does."
For nine innings, Buchholz sparkled with the flash bulbs, with a little help from a David Ortiz base clearing double, a Kevin Youkilis three run homer over the Green Monster, and an amazing diving stop by Dustin Pedroia that I'm absolutely positive that you will see on Sportscenter's top 10 plays. After each out, typically the result of a gravity-defying curveball or an immaculately released changeup, the anxious Red Sox rookie nibbled on his glove, enjoying the scene. By the last out, when Buchholz got Nick Markakis on a called strike three for his ninth strikeout and the final out of the game, the crowd of 36,819 was at a fever pitch.
The New York Yankees won in the afternoon against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 9-6, staying five games behind, but with Buchholz's singular brilliance, you have to wonder whether or not he will keep this up for the Red Sox.
Buchholz is doing really well with the Red Sox so far. He is now 2-0, in 2 starts, with a 1.80 ERA, and a 0.933 WHIP. I think he is definitely worth keeping on the Boston Red Sox's roster.
Clay Buchholz, you're the man!! Way to go.
