Sunday, March 8, 2015

Clay Buchholz Goes Three Hitless Innings in Red Sox Win; Nolan Arenado Drives Rockies to First Win of Spring

Players of the Day for Saturday, March 7, 2015

Buchholz: 3 hitless
Grapefruit League

The Boston Red Sox evened their Grapefruit League record at 2-2 with a 4-2 win over Minnesota, as Clay Buchholz got his Spring off to a solid start with three innings of hitless ball. Buchholz, hampered last season by injury which limited him to an 8-11 record - his worst as a major leaguer - struck out four while issuing just one walk.

Boston, which was one of the weaker offensive teams in the 2014 campaign, scored all of their runs in single fashion, getting one tally in each of the third, sixth, seventh, and eighth innings. David Ortiz and newly-arrived Pablo Sandoval each had one RBI in the win.

Buchholz finished last season with a 5.34 ERA, but enters the new year with a solid record of 66 wins versus 44 losses.

Cactus League
Arenado: 3-run HR

Getting their first win of the year after three consecutive losing efforts, the Colorado Rockies are giving Nolan Arenado a close inspection after the got them off to a hot start with a three-run, first-inning homer.

The Rockies staff didn't help matters much, giving up late runs, but Colorado held on for the 7-5 victory over the Cubs (0-3).

Arenado, who played in 111 games last season for the Rockies, hit 18 homers and drove in 61 runs as their regular third baeman for much of the season.

He looks to have the spot in hand for the 2015 season, and will likely bat in the high middle of the lineup, possibly filling the #3 spot, ahead of slugger Justin Morneau.

Adding a double and scoring, Arenado went 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs.

In 244 games, Arenado has produced a .278 batting average over two seasons.

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