Clay Buchholz turned 23 on August 14th. Three days later he recorded his first Major League win against the Angels. Tonight, he became the first Red Sox rookie to pitch a no-hitter.Buchholz mixed his pitches like a veteran, keeping Baltimore hitters off balance all night. For that, a tip of the cap goes to Jason Varitek. His change-up complemented the fastball (93 at times) and his mesmerizing curve ball beautifully.
The bats came to life again, giving Buchholz plenty of support. Papi cleared the bases with a double and Youk hit a three-run homer, providing the key blows to the Orioles. But the story tonight was pitching, and as the Sox added runs in the bottom of the eighth, 35,000 fans at Fenway wanted to get to the ninth before Clay cooled off.
Buchholz sat on the end of the bench in the dugout, jacket on, nobody around him. When the final out of the eighth was recorded, he stood, removed the jacket, and headed out to the mound with all the poise and confidence of a grizzled veteran.
Buchholz got Brian Roberts swinging to start the ninth. Corey Patterson followed with a line-out to center, leaving Nick Markakis as the final hurdle. His first pitch was a ball followed by a strike looking and a foul, making the count 0-and-2. Buchholz got the sign from Varitek, and froze Markakis for a called third strike. And Fenway erupted. The bench cleared and Buchholz was mobbed by ecstatic teammates as the Fenway crowd went wild.
The only real dangers to losing the no-no came in the 7th and 8th. Miguel Tejada ripped a grounder past the mound, but fellow rookie Dustin Pedroia made the diving stop, popped to his feet, whirled, and got Tejada at first. In the eighth with two outs, Jay Payton hit a solid grounder back to the mound, but Buchholz flagged it down and under-handed to first for the out.
Buchholz also pitched a no-hitter in high school.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-01-2007 @ 11:08PM
john said...
I'll bet he can no-hit the White Sox to......
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9-01-2007 @ 11:39PM
George B Vieto said...
Looks like the Red Sox have found themselves another ace to aid them get into the playoffs and win the American League East title. Superb pitching performance by Clay Bucholz.
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9-02-2007 @ 12:13AM
latinman62 said...
efff BOSTON....YOUR GOING TO CHOKE DOWN THE STRETCH
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9-02-2007 @ 12:15AM
Ray said...
John,
I'm sure he could, but then again, I think you and I could no-hit the White Sox...and my 7-year old granddaughter might be able to hold them hitless through 5 or 6 innings. She has a pitch count of 50 so a no-hitter would be out of the question.
On a serious note, great job by Clay Buchholz. Boston appears to have another young ace to go with Beckett and Dice-K. It would seem Curt Schilling's days are numbered. The Red Sox would be wise to let him go after the season (and use the money to resign Mike Lowell!).
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9-02-2007 @ 12:30AM
lourdes sanchez said...
Way to go Clay!
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9-02-2007 @ 12:31AM
Ray said...
"The final pitch was his 115th, 21 more than his longest outing of the year. If he had reached 120, even if he had a no-hitter, he would have been taken out, general manager Theo Epstein said."
Nonsense! But then again, Theo is the genius who traded Bard and Meredith for Doug Mirabelli.
He's also the wizard who decided Carlos Pena didn't have much of a future so he let him go.
And of course, he's the boy wonder who has gone through a series of (very expensive) shortstops when he already had a damn good one in Carbrera.
People keep giving Theo too much credit for the 2004 World Series win. That had a lot more to do with the NY Yankees choking than it did with Theo's moves.
Take a kid out of a game with a no-hitter in the ninth inning? Epstein would have needed his damn gorilla suit to escape Fenway Park alive.
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9-02-2007 @ 1:24AM
rob said...
Ray-
Theo is also the gut who got Buchholz as part of the Pedro trade. I think Theo gets a check plus for that one. He also managed to bring over Schilling, Ortiz, Beckett, and Lowell. That being said, I agree he has made some mistakes. Lugo, DREW!!!!, Wily Mo, etc. But overall Theo has been very good for Boston.
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9-02-2007 @ 1:37AM
swog said...
Anytime there's a no-hitter, it's astounding. This kid does it his 2nd time out. The ESPN announcer called one particular pitch, "filthy". Aptly stated, as the term, "nasty" is inadequate. After seeing his 2 outings, his ability to throw impossible to hit pitches along with smoke, promises fans of the game something very special.... and the promise of great times ahead for Red Sox fans. He looks too young to drive a car, but he's got more composure than most.
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9-02-2007 @ 3:07AM
Jen said...
As a die hard Yankee fan I am SO happy to see this kid pitch a no- no...Cause they will continue to start him- because after all the Orioles made him look like he's got real potential...But when they play a real team...They're going to kick the little rookie's ass! It will take Francona a couple of starts to realize this and mark my word...He will be back in the minors before the end of the season! Go Yankees!
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9-02-2007 @ 7:21AM
Mike said...
Way to go Jason as well! 3rd no hitter caught by him. I don't think Clay shook off one pitch!
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9-02-2007 @ 11:13AM
AWANDERSON said...
RED SOX NEEDED THIS AFTER THE YANKEES THING
CONGRADULATION TO BUCHOLZ A TIME HE WILL NEVER FORGET AND ONLY 23! RED SOX FAN FOR 50 YRS.
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9-02-2007 @ 12:16PM
Marilyn Ladopoulos said...
#9 You need to get some class!!
As for Epstien, it's too bad he showed such poor judgement by trading Gabbard for Gagne. He would have been another great young arm to complement Lester and Bucholz.
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9-02-2007 @ 7:09PM
Zelmo said...
Ray,
Apparently, Cashman shared some wizard dust with Theo because Pena was in the Yankee organization in 2006 and let go. Forgot that, eh?
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9-02-2007 @ 7:18PM
grant said...
good game kid keep it up, kinda thought your going to be a goodone glad the sox didnt trade you for a old right fielder that plays for the other soxs, and to the other guy that said you could no nite the white sox to hes a ass to a no hitter is a no hitter, tough to do it with anyone you pitch one heck of a game
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9-02-2007 @ 7:41PM
nickstoli said...
An open letter to Clay,
Remember one thing, young man, with women, it's all about money. Always has been, always will be.
God Bless.
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9-02-2007 @ 7:44PM
joe said...
The way the umpire behind home plate was calling strikes on balls 4 inches off of the plate , I could have thrown a no hitter.....
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9-03-2007 @ 11:10AM
BRIAN said...
With both The Yankee's and Boston each have a young pitching star, this October should top the 2004 playoffs !!
Brian
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9-03-2007 @ 11:15AM
BRIAN said...
Hey #9
Thing about what your saying ! You sweep Boston then get blown out by Tampa Bay !
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9-03-2007 @ 11:54AM
Ron said...
Hi Bryan oh I forgot now its Brian neither one can spell worth a damn. LOL RON
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