Buchholz's dugout visit catches Farrell by surprise

BOSTON -- Clay Buchholz surprised Red Sox manager John Farrell on Friday night, but not with the way he pitched for Pawtucket.

The rehabbing right-hander -- who tossed 3 1/3 innings while giving up one run on seven hits and no walks -- hustled to Fenway Park and was in the Red Sox dugout by the seventh inning, fewer than two hours after he left the McCoy Stadium mound.

The quick commute, which is about a 50-minute drive, wasn't exactly a part of the plan.

"I happened to ask a question to David Ross, and I look up and he's sitting next to him," Farrell said. "It's like, 'What the heck are you doing here?'

"It shows outwardly that not only does he feel good about himself -- not just because of the game he pitched but to get back here in uniform and be back in our environment. Obviously, he wants to get back on the mound, he's eager to. It's been that way for a long time."

So how did Buchholz do it?

"That's a good question," Farrell said with a slight laugh. "I sure don't know."

As for Buchholz's actual performance, his second game action since June 8, Farrell echoed the pitcher's sentiment from Friday. Buchholz got better as the game went on, according to Farrell, with his velocity picking up and his secondary stuff looking more and more crisp with each passing inning.

"I think more than anything he's starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel," Farrell said.

Buchholz will make another start Wednesday for the PawSox, who will be in one of four cities as they open up the first round of their playoffs on the road. Farrell said Buchholz will throw around 70 pitches or four-to-five innings.