Buchholz finished April with a 1-3 record and a 5.33 ERA. He had one more walk than strikeout and was looking very little like the 17-game winner from a year before.
But after his third straight solid start on Friday night in Yankee Stadium, Buchholz is not only involved in any party put on by the pitching staff, he's the life of it.
Buchholz showcased overpowering stuff and made but one mistake in an effort that fueled Boston's 5-4 win over the Yankees on Friday night. He allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings, striking out seven and walking one. The 26-year-old is 3-0 with a 1.93 ERA in May and has 15 strikeouts against only three walks.
On Friday, for perhaps the first time since he was flirting with the American League ERA crown late last year, Buchholz displayed plenty of dominance. He had incredible velocity early on, exhibited severe bite on his breaking stuff and kept everything down in the zone, except for a flat cutter that Russell Martin hammered for a two-run homer.
"The last few starts have been fun," Buchholz said. "It's a little easier when you've got all your pitches working.
The Yankees did not get a hit until the fourth, when Alex Rodriguez singled to left. Two batters later, Buchholz finished the frame with a 92-mph cutter that broke down and in on Nick Swisher, who could only flail at what was one of the best pitches Buchholz has thrown all year. Hard, heavy and with loads of movement.
New York got on the board with Martin's blast in the fifth and had a runner on second later in the inning. Buchholz ended that threat with another clutch strikeout. This time, it was Mark Teixeira who had no chance against one of several quality changeups thrown by Buchholz.
"I thought he was tremendous," manager Terry Francona said of his starter. "He was really good. He threw hard, down with movement. He started using his changeup and breaking ball, but the fastball had so much depth to it that, real good velocity. That was impressive."
What made the outing even more impressive was the fact that it came five days after Buchholz had a start interrupted by rain at Fenway Park. He endured a delay of over two hours before returning to the mound against Minnesota and finishing five scoreless innings.
Buchholz said he had no issues recovering from that awkward appearance.
In addition, his dominance came against a lineup that had given him fits in the past. Buchholz entered with a 6.25 ERA vs. New York.
Such numbers mean little when you're as on your game as Buchholz was Friday night.
"Tonight, everything was working," said catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
Buchholz admitted that Yankee Stadium can be "the toughest place to pitch mentally" because of the always-potent opponent, and the fans who always let him know how they feel.
In an effort that featured a complete arsenal loaded with quality pitches that kept the Yankees hitters off balance, it was Buchholz who had the mental edge.
