First Start for Buchholz

So the second half began in kind of a funny way for the Red Sox. The Red Sox in their alternate Friday night away unis (the ones with the navy shirt) faced the Jays wearing their throwback powder blues. And a player we haven't seen all season took the mound in the form of Clay Buchholz. He's spent the past year and a half "recovering" from that no hitter he threw in 2007. His record in AAA this year is undeniable though (7-2, 2.42 ERA). It's time to give him a shot this year.

Tonight he pitched 5 2/3 giving up only one run. He had some base runners and had to pitch around some things, but over all he looked pretty good. The breaking pitches were biting and he was locating his fast ball well. You can't complain about that, especially since he left the game in line for a win with a 4-1 lead.

Another kid held down the fort with 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. Daniel Bard continued to pitch well. Some pitchers really look like their trying to throw hard. Bard on the other hand has a super smooth delivery, but the ball just jumps out of his hand. 98 mph is never a problem. Sixteen of the last twenty three outs he's recorded have been K's.

Okajima and Paps pitched the 8th and 9th like clockwork and just like that the Sox have their first win of the second half. The icing on top is that the Sox designated Julio "The Domestic Abuser" Lugo for assignment. Hooray!