Buchholz was a perfect 5-0 with a 1.19 ERA in five April starts. He had 39 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings, and he helped guide a lights-out pitching staff that was largely responsible for the Red Sox getting off to a major league-best 18-8 start in April.
Among American League pitchers with at least 36 innings pitched, Buchholz finished tied for first in wins, was second in ERA, was fifth in opponent batting average (.192), was tied for seventh in strikeouts and was tied for eighth in innings pitched. His 1.19 April ERA was the lowest by a Red Sox hurler through his first five starts of a season since Roger Clemens posted a 0.66 mark through his first five starts in 1991.
This is the second time in his career that Buchholz has earned AL Pitcher of the Month honors. He also accomplished the feat back in August 2010, which was actually the last time a Red Sox pitcher has earned the honor. The last Red Sox pitcher to be named AL Pitcher of the Month for April was Derek Lowe in 2002.
Buchholz’s impressive outing on Wednesday night (May 1), during which he tossed seven shutout innings en route to becoming baseball’s first six-game winner, didn’t even factor into the voting process. He’s certainly off and running in his attempt to repeat the feat in May, though.
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