(Sports Network) - Clay Buchholz tries to get himself back into the American League Cy Young discussion this evening, when the Boston Red Sox go for a sweep of their three-game set with the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.
Buchholz has been one of the best pitchers in the AL for the better part of the season, but is winless in his last three starts (0-2) and lasted just one inning in losing to the Oakland Athletics on Friday. The young right-hander surrendered five runs and five hits and walked four batters in the abbreviated outing to fall to 15-7 to go along with a 2.53 earned run average on the year.
"I was just missing with pitches, trying to go in and missing away," said Buchholz. "I felt like I've been off for seven days, that's basically what it felt like. It didn't really feel comfortable throwing in the bullpen. Whenever you get out on the mound during the game, adrenaline kicks in."
Buchholz has faced the Mariners just once in his career but did not get a decision, allowing three runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 frames.
Boston made it three straight wins on Tuesday, as David Ortiz's three-run homer capped a two-out rally in the eighth inning and lifted the Red Sox to a 9-6 victory.
Ortiz finished with two hits for the Red Sox, who have won five of their last eight games, and reached the 30-homer mark for the sixth time in a Boston uniform. Only Ted Williams has more in franchise history.
"It means a lot," Ortiz of reaching 30 homers. "I'm not even close to what Mr. Williams was, or means for this organization. He played for so many years and did so many great things. When people mention your name right next to him, it's a huge compliment for me."
Adrian Beltre went 3-for-4 with a double for Boston, setting the team record for most extra-base hits by a third baseman (71) while also setting a new career-high in doubles (42).
Jed Lowrie added his first career multi-homer game, blasting his ninth and 10th career long balls in the victory, while Rich Hill (1-0) earned his first win since June 19, 2009 while with Baltimore after getting the final out of the seventh.
Franklin Gutierrez finished 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI for the Mariners, who scored more than three runs at home for the first time since August 6. Over its last 16 games in its home park, Seattle had tallied three or fewer runs, the longest single-season streak in the majors since 1920.
Russell Branyan also drove in a pair of runs for Seattle, while Chone Figgins had four hits in the loss. Ichiro Suzuki went 3-for-4 with four runs scored and an RBI to raise his season hit total to a major league-best 189.
Seattle will pin its hopes tonight on righty David Pauley, who is 2-7 with a 4.39 ERA. Pauley did not get a decision on Friday in Anaheim, as the Angels reached him for three runs in 6 2/3 innings of Seattle's 4-3 loss.
Pauley lost to the Red Sox on August 25 and is 0-2 with a 3.97 ERA in two starts against them.
Boston is 6-3 against Seattle this season.