DETROIT -- Clay Buchholz went back to basics Thursday, as he pitched out of the stretch for the entire six innings he was on the mound. Buchholz allowed one run in six innings in the Red Sox's 4-3 loss to the Tigers at Comerica Park.
"I felt good, I went with out of the stretch the whole start, less moving parts for me, just things I've been working on," Buchholz said. "I feel like that keeps me over the rubber a little bit longer and enables me to command a little bit better."
Buchholz has struggled for most of the season, going winless since May 9. He has spent most of the campaign in the bullpen, but after Thursday's start, manager John Farrell said he may consider moving Buchholz back to the rotation.
"I thought that's probably the most consistent, quality strikes he's thrown in any given outing this year -- particularly in a starting role," Farrell said. "He held his velocity well, he had a very good curveball, good cutter. He kept the ball on the ground and got some key strikeouts."
The lone run Buchholz allowed came on a sacrifice fly in the second inning after J.D. Martinez was awarded third base on a controversial play in center field. Jackie Bradley Jr. laid out for a fly ball, but did not come up with it. Martinez returned to first base after seeing the umpire signal that Bradley caught it. Ultimately, the play was reviewed and overturned, putting Martinez at third.
"I saw Jackie not catch the ball and I wasn't looking at anybody else," Buchholz said. "But the second-base umpire did the safe signal, which would have meant throw it to second base and get that out there. Then whatever happens after that, at least you get one out. So that's what I thought it was. But umpires' discretion, I guess. That's how it went."
Buchholz didn't let the disputed play affect him, hanging zeros for more more innings en route to his first quality start since May 20.
"You're going to go through ups and downs, and I think everybody knows that," he said. "It's a little bit tougher when it comes late in the game and that's why I think all the attention is directed at that. We got a good pitching staff as a whole, and I think everybody knows that and trusts that."