Daniel Nava hit a three run homer in the bottom of the seventh was all that Clay Buchholz needed as the Red Sox have won their third straight, beating the Orioles, 3-1.
It was a pitcher's duel between Buchholz and Wei-Yin Chen, as both of them only allowed a couple of singles and walks until the seventh when Dustin Pedroia started the rally with a single and Mike Napoli getting the first extra base hit of the game, a double to deep center that was almost in the bleachers.
After Will Middlebrooks struck out, it appeared that Chen would be leaving for Tommy Hunter, who had been warming up for a little bit to face Nava. Three pitches later Nava would take Chen's offering to Landsdowne Street and Chen would get taken out right after.
Nava has been playing really well in the utility role so far this season. Getting the start in left field over Jackie Bradley Jr, he went 2-for-2 with a walk. He's now homered in two straight games and has reached base 10 times in 17 plate appearances.
But back to Buchholz for a second because he was filthy today. He went seven innings giving up three base hits & four walks while striking out eight. The Orioles couldn't get a baserunner past second base with him on the mound. The only run that Buchholz has given up this season is that home run to Travis Hafner against the Yankees. (0.64 ERA) It's the total opposite of 2012 Clay. THIS is the Clay Buchholz we've been hoping for. All it took was for John Farrell to return.
After Buchholz left in the seventh, Andrew Bailey got the hold in a 1-2-3 eighth, striking out two and getting another to fly out to center. Joel Hanrahan made his Fenway Park debut and after making Adam Jones look foolish with a fastball, Jones returns the favor by taking a slider left over the plate into the Monster seats to make it a 3-1 game.
Hanrahan would then get the white hot Chris Davis to ground out to Napoli, who made a great play, and then gets Matt Weiters to strike out for the second out. JJ Hardy would make it more interesting by hitting a wall ball double but Ryan Flaherty would pop up in foul ground at third to end the game.
The Sox have now won three in a row for the first time since July 29th-31st. They'll look for their fourth win Wednesday evening.
