Buchholz gives up run, offense held in check
Hassan goes 2-for-3 while Napoli, Gomes, Middlebrooks each tally hit
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Clay Buchholz wasn't sharp in his first start, giving up three hits, one run and one walk in an inning of work during the Red Sox's 8-0 loss to the Rays on Tuesday at JetBlue Park.
"First-game jitters," said Buchholz. "Velocity is creeping back up to where I need it to be. No problems throughout the whole thing. A couple pitches were spinning off, and that's all mechanical, so that's an easy fix. I just have to work on it."
Chris Archer made an impressive Grapefruit League debut, firing two shutout innings. The righty, coming off a dazzling rookie season, allowed one hit and no walks while striking out one.
"I got used to the umpire and the whole spectrum of the backstop and the fans," Archer said. "Having the world champions in the box, essentially, helped the whole process overall. I was able to focus on each individual pitch regardless of the situation. I was happy overall with the outing."
Archer's lone strikeout was a backdoor slider against David Ortiz.
"I was happy," said Archer. "I'm a big person on visualization. I visualized that pitch. I do it out in the bullpen, but nothing is like executing it in a game to one of the best hitters of all-time."
Rays first baseman James Loney had the big hit in a three-run second inning, drilling a two-run homer to right off Rubby De La Rosa.
In a quiet day for Boston's regulars, as Mike Napoli had a walk and a hit, while Jonny Gomes and Will Middlebrooks each had a hit. Outfield prospect Alex Hassan went 2-for-3.
David DeJesus had a solid day for the Rays in the leadoff spot, going 2-for-2 with a walk and scoring a pair of runs. Matt Joyce and Jose Molina added multihit games.
Former closer Francisco Cordero, who is on the comeback trail, fired a scoreless inning for Boston, striking out two.
Up next: Lefty Chris Capuano makes his debut with the Red Sox on Wednesday in Jupiter, Fla., in a 1:05 p.m. ET game against the Cardinals. It will be the first meeting between the teams since the Red Sox won Game 6 of the World Series. Xander Bogaerts, Middlebrooks, Jackie Bradley Jr., Daniel Nava and Mike Carp are all scheduled to play. Top prospect Anthony Ranaudo, who was dominant in his first Grapefruit League start, will also pitch in the contest that will air on MLB.TV.