FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Right-hander Clay Buchholz continued to work on his changeup Friday night against the Pirates, and was satisfied with the results.
Buchholz went three innings, giving up two runs on three hits with a strikeout and a hit batter. Buchholz took the loss as the Red Sox fell to the Pirates, 7-4.
I felt better physically, actually, Buchholz said of his second spring outing. Pitches felt like they came out a lot crisper. Made two mistakes -- actually the second one wasnt a mistake, just first-pitch changeup and he caught it. The first hit I gave up to Clint Barmes was a really good pitch, and he just did a good job of hitting. Left a pitch up to Andrew McCutchen his first at-bat.
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The changeup was probably the pitch I threw the most besides fastballs. Felt good. Thats what I wanted to do today. I wanted to go out and be able to throw changeups behind in the count just to get a feel for it. And I threw a couple really good ones that came out really nice. That was good to feel that.
Buchholz said his back, which sidelined him after his June 16 start last season, has not been a concern to him this spring.
No, its something that I dont really think about, he said. Get here and stretch and do all the preventative work and everything. But once I step out there and start running around its nothing that Im thinking about trying to hold back.
But it is something he will have to maintain throughout the season.
Buchholz will make his next start Tuesday. The Red Sox are scheduled to travel to Tampa to face the Yankees in a night game on Tuesday. Buchholz is not scheduled for that game, so he would likely start a minor league game.