The Boston Red Sox sent Clay Buchholz back to his 2007 roots, at homey Hadlock Field, to regain his command, comfort and confidence.

"After the second inning, I called (pitching coach Mike Cather) over," Buchholz said. "I said, 'Man, I feel so much more comfortable right now than I have in the last two months. It's unbelievable.' "

In the first phase of Project Refocus for Buchholz, consider it mission accomplished. Buchholz pounded the strike zone. He walked no batters over seven innings, throwing 93 pitches, 69 of them for strikes.

He went to a three-ball count against only two batters. Buchholz allowed five hits and four runs (three earned) while striking out eight.

Consider that Buchholz has not gone that deep into a game since April 26, when he lasted eight innings for the Red Sox in a 2-1 loss at Tampa Bay.

Since that April start, things have not been the same for Buchholz. With a 2-9 record and 6.75 ERA for the Red Sox, he found himself back in Double-A. Instead of chartered flights, Buchholz rode a bus from Harrisburg, Pa., on Sunday night, arriving in Portland at 3 a.m. Monday.

"It is what it is," Buchholz said with a smile.

For those looking for a complete overhaul of Buchholz's delivery, that's not the plan, said Cather. Cather, who worked with Buchholz in Class A at the end of the 2006 season, then again last year in Portland, wanted to watch Buchholz pitch without the burden of Red Sox Nation on his shoulders.

"Taking a breath, I think, is the big thing, and taking a step back," Cather said. "It's going to be good to just get a chance (for Buchholz) to get back to the way Clay is – and that is having that dominant feeling.

"He's the lead dog. There's no doubt about it. And I feel like he probably hasn't felt like the lead dog for some time."

It's not a secret to Buchholz.

"I knew coming in here, it's a confidence thing right now," he said. "Being up there – thinking that everything has to be perfect. ...

"As of late, I felt like I was always behind in the count. I can't throw any of my off-speed stuff for strikes."

When he was sent down to Triple-A Pawtucket in May and then called back to Boston in July, it only made things worse for Buchholz.

"Knowing that I had to prove something to stay there, I was playing not to get sent back down to the minor leagues," said Buchholz. "I don't think anybody can go up there and play like that."

On Monday, Buchholz just pitched, getting a few tips from Cather. He went back to patterns he used so well for the Sea Dogs last year – fastballs and change-ups, then mixing in sliders and a few curves. He gave up three runs in the third inning but otherwise was in control.

"It's a positive for him," said Red Sox minor-league pitching coordinator Ralph Treuel, who was at Monday's game. "He had a little bump in one inning. He made some good pitches after that."

So now what?

Sea Dogs Manager Arnie Beyeler hopes Buchholz can go back to Boston soon, but "keeping him around here would be nice."

Buchholz is resigned to just relax and pitch like he knows he can.

"If I get a chance to go back up in September, I'm going to go up there with more confidence," Buchholz said. "If not, I'll go home and have some building to do in the offseason. Either way, it's going to turn out good."

Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:

kthomas@pressherald.com