Buchholz was smacked around in his final regular season start of the year against the Indians on Sunday. After winning six straight decisions, Buchholz has now been hit hard in his last two starts. Buchholz allowed six earned in three frames against a very weak Cleveland lineup less than a week after letting the Blue Jays score seven runs on five homers in just five innings of action.
“I think he was just thinking too much,” Francona said of Buchholz’s Sunday outing. “We certainly would have rather him pitching a gem, but as he came out of the bullpen, he was leaving the rubber a little quick, which happens. There’s a chance for a good side to get him back going in the right direction.”
Despite the rough outing, Buchholz was able to nudge Daisuke Matsuzaka for the third starter in the opening series. Matsuzaka, like Buchholz, also had a very promising final stretch where he went 3-1 and allowed just six earned runs over 24 1/3 innings.
Below is Francona’s complete postgame news conference:
