Source: Boston Herald

Here's a novel idea: Rather than relying on turnarounds from erstwhile aces Josh Beckett and Jon Lester, maybe the Red Sox should just clone Clay Buchholz.

At this point, it may be their only hope.

Since the middle of May, Buchholz has been the Sox' best pitcher, to say nothing of one of the elite starters in the American League. And over the past month, as Beckett and Lester have continued to falter, Buchholz has been nearly unhittable.

It was more of the same last night. Seeking to snap a three-game losing skid, the Red Sox gave the ball to Buchholz and the rail-thin right-hander spun a 104-pitch, complete-game gem in a 3-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians on a chilly, wet night at Progressive Field.

"That was just what the doctor ordered," manager Bobby Valentine said.

"He was terrific."

Actually, Buchholz has been this good for five starts, during which he has allowed only five earned runs in 39 innings for a 1.15 ERA.

This time, Buchholz allowed only two hits, both by Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera. But when Cabrera came to the plate with one out in the ninth inning and a chance to tie the game, Buchholz got him to line out to left field. One batter later, Shin-Soo Choo grounded out, capping Buchholz' fifth career complete game and second this season.

"That's probably as good as he's been all year," said right fielder Cody Ross, whose two-run homer in the sixth inning broke a 1-1 tie and provided the winning margin. "He's really turned it around and pitched his butt off.

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