Red Sox rookie throws no-hitter against Orioles
BOSTON, United States (AFP) — Boston Red Sox rookie Clay Buchholz, making just his second major league baseball start, threw a no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday.
The Texan, called up by the Red Sox when injuries forced a change in the rotation, out-foxed the orioles with an array of off-speed pitches.
He struck out nine, walked three and hit one batter in Boston's 10-0 victory, which played out before a sellout crowd at Fenway Park.
Buchholz recorded the last out of the game when Nick Markakis struck out looking.
As home plate umpire Joe West hesitated, Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek dashed to the mound and the rest of the team followed.
Buchholz, 23, pitched the third no-hitter of the 2007 season, following Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox against Texas on April 18 and Justin Verlander of Detroit against Milwaukee on June 12.
He became the 17th rookie to throw a no-hitter. The last one to do it was Florida's Anibal Sanchez against Arizona last September 6.
Buchholz took the mound for the Red Sox after the rotation was moved up a day. Julian Tavarez had been scheduled to pitch on Saturday but started on Friday instead after Tim Wakefield was scratched with a sore back.
