Joe Castiglione & Dave O'Brien, Red Sox Pregame

While the Red Sox senate that nice play -- seven game lead over Texas in the wild -- a magic number of ten. And -- a big factor certainly has been the emergence of -- buckles as a more than solid number three starter.

Even when he doesn't have his great stuff Joe which was certainly the case last night is he kind of got it his way through six innings. He gave up five hits and one run he walks three and struck out one he really didn't throw many. Quality breaking balls in the starting did have a good fastball didn't have his great changeup but he did when it came time to getting hit around. When he really needed that that's been a key. In his maturing process not falling apart if he walks Amanda gives up big hit he's able to keep it together and get his way through the inning unscathed.

That was that -- against we're always told grown up -- on your best -- as much you really have to work to standard five or six innings and didn't get the -- and you know once it got a problem a couple of key jams that. I could've hurt a lot more than that it didn't it was you know Anderson to make couple -- and it's.

And Terry Francona was on the same page about buckles. I didn't think he he has good command next -- affordable and either bought me some rubric -- pitches because it was fastball. And again competed got to a point game were killed one run in this ballpark they'll wind up pretty pretty good.

Well Joe he really has and you can see then maturing process and that ability mentally to hang in there it's not something it's always been the case with play. We've seen it from time to time with a runner at first base for example. No reason in the world to be throwing over there other than he can't decide what he wants to pitch the Red Sox have sort of -- that out of him. And it's really a lot of fun to watch him pitch and Terry Francona race -- about so is John Farrell.

And if Clay Buchholz in his last seven starts now is gone five and -- an ERA of threes just been outstanding and of course. It's been such a let dice k.'s performance. -- against the Angels a big -- he'll go tomorrow and now Tim Wakefield been cleared to start on Monday.

The Red Sox starting pitching has been off the charts lately starters allowing three runs or less. In each of the last eleven games the ERA for the starters -- and is one point 77. The rotation has gone five and on the last nine games with a 173. ERA holding opponents to one run or less in six of those games. And a pitching staff as a whole. This posted a 187 ERA in the last nine games and of course the Sox -- rolled winning eight out of those nine over that span it's like Dustin Pedroia says. This whole run is based on the quality of the starting pitching the Red Sox.

And the timing is very good then of course the Red Sox hope to sustain it war. Maybe another month Linehan.

Maybe another month that that I like doing if they get their -- obviously know within a great spot. Leading the wild card by such a healthy margin and now maybe it's time to start setting sights on the New York Yankees and his big series it's coming of this we get. The Sox can get let's say within four -- going to New York who knows.

It be a lot of fun to find out. So let's go back to John Rich.