Buchholz Pitches Complete Game, Red Sox Top Astros

The Red Sox easily edged the Astros 6-1 and Clay Buchholz pitched a 7 hit, 8 strikeout complete game. In the nine starts before this one, Buchholz had put up a whopping 2.13 ERA. That’s nearly as good as Sonny Gray’s seasonal ERA.  
It was also Shane Victorino’s first game back, and he turned a 6 game hitting streak into seven games. He had come Inuit before hitting the 15 day disabled list for the second time in May. After giving up a ground rule double and giving up nothing with a man on third, the Red Sox struck.  
Mookie Betts even got the lead off hitter out on a leaping catch against the wall. Betts led off walking. Brock Holt singled him to third, and Bogaerts singled to score the lead off. Unfortunately, RISP trouble held them to just that one run.  
In the second, they struck again. Shane Victorino singled, and Sandy Leon singled to get him to third. Mookie Betts then hit a sacrifice fly and Victorino scored. Buchholz gave up nothing more until the fifth inning, not one hit.
The Red Sox rallied in the fifth. Holt advanced two bases on a throwing error by the catcher. Then Xander Bogaerts doubled to score him. In the sixth, they did it again. Sandy Leon singled, and Mookie Betts doubled to score Leon.  
In the eighth, Buchholz was still in and strong, with 5 H, 8 K and 0 ER. Then the Red Sox had an even bigger rally. Victorino singled, and he went to second on Sandy Leon’s single to shallow left. Then Mookie Betts did it again with an RBI double down the third base line, and it was 2nd and 3rd with no outs. They scored one more with two outs. Big Papi was intentionally walked to load the bases. Then Alejandro De Aza reached on an infield single to score Leon, and keep the loaded bases. But Sandoval popped out to end it. Still, it was 6-0 with only one inning to go.
Buchholz finished what he started, but struggled in the ninth. They wanted to keep him in the whole game, but he was getting tired. He just might have enough to complete the game. Jose Altuve singled, and went to second on a wild pitch. He advanced to third on fielder’s indifference. Luis Valbuena singled him in, with two strikes and two down! 6-1 Red Sox. Buchholz finished and got the next batter out to end it.
The Red Sox had a blowout over the Astros, the top and bottom of the lineup doing most of the work. Shane Victorino came back strong and Sandy Leon got two hits. Betts, Holt and Bogaerts also helped. See them play this weekend series’ finale.  
Also, I’d like to say happy birthday to my closest friend Joe, today, my brother Ryan, July 5 and my mom, July 10. Also, it’s my parents 25th anniversary of their first kiss, at the Boston Pops Fireworks. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for that day. Congratulations to them. We’re trying to relive the moment, except Ryan and I are going. Happy fourth to all!!