Clay Buchholz officially became an important part of the 2009 playoff chase Wednesday night with his win over the Toronto Blue Jays.
It was the third straight time Buchholz went pitch for pitch with an opposing team's ace, outdueling the man considered by most to be the best pitcher in the game. Buchholz went six innings against Toronto, giving up just one run and getting out of jams in the fourth and sixth innings. He showed poise and maturity to go along with the stuff we've always known he's had.
Two starts prior to Wednesday night's game, Buchholz pitched well against CC Sabathia and the New York Yankees and lost. Last Thursday, he pitched even better against Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers and lost again.
Wednesday night, he pitched well and kept the Jays' offense at bay while Roy Halladay had his shortest outing against the Sox since July of 2007.
This is what Buchholz has done in his last three starts:
Aug. 8 at Yankees: 6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 3 K (first quality start since April 26, 2008)
Aug. 13 vs. Tigers: 7 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
Aug. 19 at Blue Jays: 6 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
Three very strong starts. Even though he only has one win to show for it, he has to have built confidence by going up against some of the best in the game. It is all part of the maturation process for a young pitcher who will now — with each start — get to pitch in progressively more important games.
It's a very important development for the Sox. It has been a lost season for Daisuke Matsuzaka, last year's 18-game winner who was slated to be the third starter for Boston this season. He delivered a World Baseball Classic for his native Japan in March, but he hasn't delivered much since.
The Red Sox were able to withstand the loss of Matsuzaka for the first half of the season, as Tim Wakefield ran out to an 11-3 start. He gave the Red Sox everything they could ask for in a middle-of-the-rotation pitcher.
Then, Wake joined Dice-K on the DL. And, suddenly, Brad Penny was pushed into that No. 3 slot. And Junichi Tazawa was in the big leagues, far earlier than expected.
That's why Buchholz needed to show the world that he was ready for prime time. Wednesday night, he delivered.
Here's one thing we know for sure about the 2009 Red Sox: They have a one-two punch at the top of the rotation that can compete with any in the game. Josh Beckett and Jon Lester are legitimate co-aces that can combine for three or four wins in a postseason series.
To get to that postseason, you need a quality starter behind those two. The loss of both Wakefield and Matsuzaka has been a one-two punch to the gut of Boston's playoff hopes.
Now, with Buchholz stepping up, there is once again reason to believe that this rotation is ready to tackle these final six weeks of the season.
