Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here... highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
“Buchholz was fan-tastic!” manager Bobby Valentine rhapsodized after a slap hit by Mike Aviles in the ninth inning drove home Daniel Nava with the game-winning run. “His cutter and fastball were super. And his guts!
“He ran out of gas there in the sixth inning but he gave us seven innings on fumes.”
Buchholz acknowledged the steamy conditions all but rung him dry by the time he got Craig Gentry to pop out to end the seventh after walking two straight with two outs. Having allowed Texas’ only run the previous inning by giving up a one-out double to Elvis Andrus, throwing a wild pitch and inducing Josh Hamilton to hit into a groundout that tied the game, Buchholz knew the kind of night it had become.
It was one where every pitch would count dearly because pitching was going to decide this night. It did. His pitching did.
Herald | Buchholz shows his ace card
With all due respect to Mike Aviles, last night's win was all about Clay Buchholz.
And all of a sudden, Buchholz is the ace of the staff. Let's say we were going into a short series in the playoffs. Who would be the starters right now? Buchholz would be game 1...and then you'd pretty much draw straws.
Which is good considering how badly he started the year. I remember thinking (and perhaps writing) back in May that maybe we should have traded him for the right to sign John Farrell like the Blue Jays wanted. Glad I'm not in charge (as always).
On page 2, one of the Sox' trade targets moves out west.
According to various reports, the Dodgers have obtained SS-3B Hanley Ramirez and LHP Randy Choate from the Marlins for LHP Nathan Eovaldi and Single A RHP Scott McGough.
The Dodgers agreed to pick all of the money owed to Ramirez, $37.5 million, through the 2014 season.
Globe | Marlins send Ramirez, Choate to Dodgers
Consider this a bullet dodged. Not that Hanley isn't a good player, but he's not what we need. If I didn't make myself clear enough, it's all about starting pitching.
Herald | Mike Aviles to the rescue | Carl Crawford has perspective about drop in Sox lineup | Roy Oswalt offers details on deal | Globe | Aviles lifts Sox in ninth | Wild outing for reliever Padilla | Crawford OK with latest drop in lineup | CSNNE | Aviles comes through in clutch again | Buy, buy, buy! | Buchholz rises to the occasion again in win over Rangers | ESPNBoston | Mike Aviles' bloop single helps Red Sox snap losing streak | Red Sox win comes just in time | Carl Crawford dropped to seventh | Ortiz says he's feeling much better | Adrian Beltre 'OK' after getting hit
