Buchholz Solid As Red Sox Beat Tampa Bay Rays

March 18, 2012

The Associated Press

Red Sox' Alex Hassan, right, reaches first as Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Carlos Pena tries to get a glove on the ball during the sixth inning of a spring training baseball game in Port Charlotte, Fla., Sunday, March 18, 2012. (Charles Krupa/AP)

Clay Buchholz allowed one run and four hits in five innings, Cody Ross homered for the second straight afternoon and the Boston Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 8-4 Sunday.

Buchholz, who struck out four and walked none, allowed his only run on Evan Longoria's first-inning homer - his first hit of spring training. Longoria was 2 for 3 with a walk, two runs and an RBI.

Rays left-hander Matt Moore, back from a mild abdominal strain, gave up four runs, two hits and three walks in 2 1-3 innings, leaving after he walked the bases loaded in the third. He allowed solo homers to Ross and Josh Kroeger, and threw just 26 of 52 pitches for strikes.

This program aired on March 18, 2012. The audio for this program is not available.