Clearing the Bases Blog Index
March 29, 2007
Buchholz okay, Papelbon fine

Clay Buchholz showed some of his potential in a major league exhibition game start Thursday. Meanwhile, Jonathan Papelbon gave the Red Sox a scare, when he showed a slight limp after covering first base.

Buchholz, a high draft pick in 2005, shut out the Tampa Bay Devil Rays thorugh four innings. He was tagged for four hits and three runs in the fifth. His fastball showed life (but not always command), his change-up worked, and his curve came around.

"He accounted for himself very well," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "He just needs to go pitch."

And that he will, starting in Portland next week.

Francona popped out of the dugout quickly in the ninth when Papelbon appeared to hurt his ankle while covering first. Papelbon was off balance when he landed his right foot on the base.

"I just rolled my ankle," said Papelbon who, after being checked out, continued to throw. He pitched a 1-2-3 ninth with two strikeouts.

Argenis Diaz, a 20-year-old shortstop from Guatire, VZ, flashed the leather, as well as hitting a home run in the bottom of the ninth, tying the game 3-3. That is how it ended.

Posted at 04:29 PM

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Kevin covers baseball for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. He first reported on spring training games for the St. Petersburg Times in 1978. He wisely moved to Maine in 1994 and now writes about the Portland Sea Dogs and Boston Red Sox—when he's not coaching Little League baseball.

He is married to Nancy, and the couple recently completed their lineup card with the birth of their ninth child.



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