BOSTON — Quick and effective.
The Red Sox began their seven-game homestand Tuesday with a 1-0 win over the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park. The game evolved into a pitchers’ duel and moved at a brisk pace, with Boston ultimately delivering a timely hit late in the ballgame.
The Sox had lost three straight and entered the contest on the heels of a 1-6 road trip through Minnesota and Texas. They desperately needed an encouraging effort, and Tuesday’s starter provided it.
GAME IN A WORD
Sparkling.
Clay Buchholz dealt, dealt and dealt some more. The right-hander was brilliant on a night when the Red Sox’s offense again struggled to produce runs.
Buchholz has been turning things around of late amid Boston’s woes. He took another huge step Tuesday toward showing he’s capable of pitching at an ace-like level when all’s right.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Rusney Castillo made his first meaningful contributions of the 2015 season.
Castillo’s call-up has included both ups and downs, especially in the outfield. But Castillo delivered an RBI single in the seventh inning to break a scoreless tie and then caught a fly ball up against the right field wall in the eighth inning to help preserve the lead.
That was all Buchholz needed.
ON THE BUMP
— Buchholz not only dazzled. He also made it look effortless.
Buchholz tossed eight shutout innings in which he allowed just three hits. He struck out eight, walked two and threw 92 pitches (64 strikes).
— Koji Uehara bounced back nicely from Sunday’s blown save. He worked a scoreless ninth inning.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— The Red Sox killed their own threat in the second inning.
Pablo Sandoval walked and Mike Napoli doubled with one out to set up runners at second and third for Xander Bogaerts. Bogaerts pulled a ground ball to the left side that shortstop Danny Santana fielded and fired home to nab Sandoval.
The Red Sox still had runners at the corners with two outs. But Sandy Leon popped out to end the inning and Boston’s first scoring opportunity of the evening.
— Bogaerts jump-started Boston’s seventh-inning offense.
Bogaerts lined a ball off the center field wall for a two-out double. Leon then walked before Castillo singled back up the middle to give the Red Sox a 1-0 lead.
Bogaerts was the only Red Sox hitter with more than one hit. Boston finished with seven knocks total.
— Dustin Pedroia, Mookie Betts and David Ortiz each went 1-for-4 atop the order.
TWEET OF THE GAME
Nobody make any rash decisions.
[tweet https://twitter.com/garystriewski/status/605905978484129792Â align=’center’%5D
UP NEXT
The Red Sox and Twins will play two games Wednesday to make up for Monday’s rainout.
Eduardo Rodriguez will face Phil Hughes in the first game of the doubleheader. Rodriguez, of course, is looking to build on his dominant major league debut.
Rick Porcello will square off with Trevor May in the second game.
The first game of the twinbill is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. ET. The second game is set for 7:10 p.m.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
