Red Sox rookie Buchholz no-hits Orioles <h3>BOSTON 10, BALTIMORE 0</h3>BOSTON (Ticker) -- An injury opened the door for Boston Red SoxClay Buchholz rookie righthander to make history. In just his second major league start, Buchholz threw ano-hitter to lead the Red Sox to a 10-0 victory over theBaltimore Orioles on Saturday. Buchholz, who turned 23 on August 14, threw the third no-hitterthis year - all in the American League - and first since theDetroit Tigers' Justin Verlander accomplished the feat on June12 against the Milwaukee Brewers. "I don't even have a word for it, I was so excited and ecstaticabout everything and the way everything boiled down to thatmoment and being out there," Buchholz said. "It was, you'dthink we won a World Series or something, but it was anincredible moment in my life and one that I will never forget." "I think that was about as nervous and excited as a lot of ushave been in a long time," Boston manager Terry Francona said."That was something to see." Buchholz (2-0) only was pitching due to a back injury to TimWakefield, who was scratched from his start Friday night.Saturday's scheduled starter, Julian Tavarez, was moved up a dayto take Wakefield's spot, opening the door for Buchholz to makehistory. "It was probably the third inning of our game (Friday) night inPawtucket," said Buchholz of when he learned he would bestarting. "I had to gather all my stuff up and get up here lastnight, couldn't really sleep well, got up early, had somebreakfast and tried to get ready for the game." Wilson Alvarez of the Chicago White Sox was the last pitcher tothrow a no-hitter in his second major league start - alsoagainst the Orioles on August 11, 1991. It also was the firstno-hitter by a Boston pitcher since Derek Lowe against the TampaBay Devil Rays on April 27, 2002, and the 18th in franchisehistory. "It's been fun to watch," Red Sox general manager Theo Epsteinsaid. "Very proud of the organization, from the scouts whorecommended him and player development staff who worked with himup to the major league staff." The last pitcher to throw a no-hitter in the National League wasAnibal Sanchez of the Florida Marlins on September 6, 2006. Sanchez, ironically, went to the Marlins from the Red Sox in atrade for Josh Beckett. He was 22 at the time of his no-hitter. Rookie second baseman Dustin Pedroia preserved the no-hitterwith a spectacular defensive play in the seventh inning. Miguel Tejada bounced a pitch over Buchholz's head that appearedheaded into center field, but Pedroia made a diving stop as hesprawled onto the outfield grass, got up and just got beatTejada's headfirst slide into the first base bag. "Whenever I jumped up and missed that ball, I was thinking it isover and then (Pedroia) comes out of nowhere and probably oneof the best plays I've seen in 10 years," Buchholz said."Whenever he made that play I knew something was meant to happentonight." Center fielder Coco Crisp probably had the best view ofPedroia's magnificent play and almost could not believe was hesaw. "I thought he had no chance at it and in that situation you justhave to dive for it," Crisp said. "He dove and he shocked me.I thought he was going to flip it to (shortstop Julio) Lugosince his back was to first base, but he came around and firedit over there." In the eighth inning, Buchholz stabbed a comeback by Jay Paytonfor the final out, putting him at 102 pitches. Buchholz started the ninth by striking out Brian Roberts - hiseighth of the game - and retired Corey Patterson on a line driveto Crisp, bringing Nick Markakis to the plate. "Well the adrenaline was running and I don't think I had manyemotions," Buchholz said. "I sort of tried to zone everythingout but it's sort of hard with 40,000 people screaming everytimeyou throw." With the Fenway Park crowd on its feet and the count 1-2,Buchholz got Markakis on a slow breaking ball for a calledstrike three, setting off a delirious celebration among histeammates. "Whenever I couldn't throw a fastball for a strike, I was ableto come back with changeups and other breaking pitches forstrikes and keep the hitters off-balance," Buchholz said. "He was staying in the strike zone with his breaking ball wherehe got some strikes," Baltimore manager Dave Trembley. "Therewere a lot of pitches that we swung at that weren't strikes, butyou can do that when you throw strike one; when you throwstrike one it opens up that plate and that's what he did." Buchholz finished with nine strikeouts and three walks. Hethrew 115 pitches - 73 for strikes - to help the Red Sox snap afour-game losing streak and remain five games ahead of the NewYork Yankees for the American League East lead. "He established his fastball enough and his off-speed wasdevastating," Francona said. The Red Sox gave Buchholz a cushion to work with when DavidOrtiz hit a three-run double off Orioles starter Garrett Olson(1-3) in the fourth inning for a 4-0 lead. Kevin Youkilis added a three-run home run off Rocky Cherry inthe sixth and rookie Jacoby Ellsbury had a two-run double in theeighth."
Red Sox rookie Buchholz no-hits Orioles <h3>BOSTON 10, BALTIMORE 0</h3>BOSTON (Ticker) -- An injury opened the door for Boston Red SoxClay Buchholz rookie righthander to make history. In just his second major league start, Buchholz threw ano-hitter to lead the Red Sox to a 10-0 victory over theBaltimore Orioles on Saturday. Buchholz, who turned 23 on August 14, threw the third no-hitterthis year - all in the American League - and first since theDetroit Tigers' Justin Verlander accomplished the feat on June12 against the Milwaukee Brewers. "I don't even have a word for it, I was so excited and ecstaticabout everything and the way everything boiled down to thatmoment and being out there," Buchholz said. "It was, you'dthink we won a World Series or something, but it was anincredible moment in my life and one that I will never forget." "I think that was about as nervous and excited as a lot of ushave been in a long time," Boston manager Terry Francona said."That was something to see." Buchholz (2-0) only was pitching due to a back injury to TimWakefield, who was scratched from his start Friday night.Saturday's scheduled starter, Julian Tavarez, was moved up a dayto take Wakefield's spot, opening the door for Buchholz to makehistory. "It was probably the third inning of our game (Friday) night inPawtucket," said Buchholz of when he learned he would bestarting. "I had to gather all my stuff up and get up here lastnight, couldn't really sleep well, got up early, had somebreakfast and tried to get ready for the game." Wilson Alvarez of the Chicago White Sox was the last pitcher tothrow a no-hitter in his second major league start - alsoagainst the Orioles on August 11, 1991. It also was the firstno-hitter by a Boston pitcher since Derek Lowe against the TampaBay Devil Rays on April 27, 2002, and the 17th in franchisehistory. "It's been fun to watch," Red Sox general manager Theo Epsteinsaid. "Very proud of the organization, from the scouts whorecommended him and player development staff who worked with himup to the major league staff." The last pitcher to throw a no-hitter in the National League wasAnibal Sanchez of the Florida Marlins on September 6, 2006. Sanchez, ironically, went to the Marlins from the Red Sox in atrade for Josh Beckett. He was 22 at the time of his no-hitter. Rookie second baseman Dustin Pedroia preserved the no-hitterwith a spectacular defensive play in the seventh inning. Miguel Tejada bounced a pitch over Buchholz's head that appearedheaded into center field, but Pedroia made a diving stop as hesprawled onto the outfield grass, got up and just got beatTejada's headfirst slide into the first base bag. "Whenever I jumped up and missed that ball, I was thinking it isover and then (Pedroia) comes out of nowhere and probably oneof the best plays I've seen in 10 years," Buchholz said."Whenever he made that play I knew something was meant to happentonight." Center fielder Coco Crisp probably had the best view ofPedroia's magnificent play and almost could not believe was hesaw. "I thought he had no chance at it and in that situation you justhave to dive for it," Crisp said. "He dove and he shocked me.I thought he was going to flip it to (shortstop Julio) Lugosince his back was to first base, but he came around and firedit over there." In the eighth inning, Buchholz stabbed a comeback by Jay Paytonfor the final out, putting him at 102 pitches. Buchholz started the ninth by striking out Brian Roberts - hiseighth of the game - and retired Corey Patterson on a line driveto Crisp, bringing Nick Markakis to the plate. "Well the adrenaline was running and I don't think I had manyemotions," Buchholz said. "I sort of tried to zone everythingout but it's sort of hard with 40,000 people screaming everytimeyou throw." With the Fenway Park crowd on its feet and the count 1-2,Buchholz got Markakis on a slow breaking ball for a calledstrike three, setting off a delirious celebration among histeammates. "Whenever I couldn't throw a fastball for a strike, I was ableto come back with changeups and other breaking pitches forstrikes and keep the hitters off-balance," Buchholz said. "He was staying in the strike zone with his breaking ball wherehe got some strikes," Baltimore manager Dave Trembley. "Therewere a lot of pitches that we swung at that weren't strikes, butyou can do that when you throw strike one; when you throwstrike one it opens up that plate and that's what he did." Buchholz finished with nine strikeouts and three walks. Hethrew 115 pitches - 73 for strikes - to help the Red Sox snap afour-game losing streak and remain five games ahead of the NewYork Yankees for the American League East lead. "He established his fastball enough and his off-speed wasdevastating," Francona said. The Red Sox gave Buchholz a cushion to work with when DavidOrtiz hit a three-run double off Orioles starter Garrett Olson(1-3) in the fourth inning for a 4-0 lead. Kevin Youkilis added a three-run home run off Rocky Cherry inthe sixth and rookie Jacoby Ellsbury had a two-run double in theeighth."
