BALTIMORE -- Doesnt take much more than simple math to figure out Clay Buchholz has worked his way back and is ready for the playoffs. In four starts since a lengthy stint on the disabled list, Buchholzs pitch count has grown from 74 to 113, the last of those during Bostons 12-3 rout of the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night. "Hes answered the physical question, for sure," Boston manager John Farrell said. Buchholz (12-1) allowed up three runs and seven hits in seven innings, and Daniel Nava and David Ortiz hit three-run homers for the Red Sox, who had an 8-0 lead by the third inning. Dustin Pedroia added three hits, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia had a three-run drive overturned in a video review. The win left the AL East champions needing one more win or a loss by Oakland to clinch the ALs best record. The Athletics won 8-2 at Seattle. Given a big lead before his first pitch, Buchholz rebounded from a loss to Toronto last weekend. A strained neck that cost him three months interrupted what has been a stellar season statistically. His ERA is 1.74, and hes 6-0 with a 1.40 ERA in seven road starts. Hes also 4-0 with a 1.74 ERA in his last four starts against Baltimore. "Its a good stepping stone," Buchholz said. "Im just glad the team could score all those runs. There wasnt a whole lot of stress in the outing today." That was probably for the best, given that Buchholzs routine was upset by the teams off day Thursday, when he said he basically slept all day. "My body felt a little lethargic tonight," he said. "I felt when I woke up this morning that it might be a grinding outing for me today, which I felt I needed, too. Anybody can go out there when you have your best stuff." Adam Jones two-run homer in the third was the first home run by a right-handed hitter off Buchholz this year. Buchholz also gave up Chris Davis major league-leading 53rd homer in the sixth. Scott Feldman (5-6) allowed eight runs and eight hits in 2 1-3 innings for the Orioles, who have lost seven of nine. "It wouldve been nice to finish up a little stronger heading to the off-season coming off a good game," Feldman said. "But the bottom line is, we all, everybody in here, wanted to make the playoffs and we didnt do it. Hopefully next year well get in there." Boston hit for the cycle as a team in the first, when Mike Napoli had an RBI double, Nava sent a first-pitch curveball in the right-field bleachers, and Stephen Drew hit an RBI triple. Saltalamacchias drive off Feldman in the third hit the top side of the cushion atop the right-field wall and caromed back onto the field. After the play Initially ruled a home run, umpires reviewed the video and gave Saltalamacchia a double that left two men on. Drew followed with a two-run single off Zach Britton. Ortiz hit his 30th homer in the eighth, the first batter faced by former Boston College pitcher Mike Belfiore in his major league debut. "Welcome to the big leagues," Ortiz said. "I heard hes from Boston, too." NOTES: Ortiz tied Ted Williams team record for 30-homer, 100-RBI seasons with seven. ... Davis homer was his 28th at home, breaking the previous franchise record set by Frank Robinson in Memorial Stadium in 1966. Davis was back in the lineup after missing one game with a sore right foot. An X-ray on Thursday showed nothing worrisome. "It was more about just letting me catch my breath," Davis said. ... Jones homer was his career-best 33rd, one more than last year. ... Red Sox OF Shane Victorino sat out with a nagging thumb injury. "Fully expect hell be in the lineup tomorrow," Farrell said. ... Napoli went 1 for 3 with two walks in his return to Bostons lineup after missing four games with a left foot injury, and CF Jacoby Ellsbury was 0 for 4 in his second game after missing 16 with a broken right foot. ... A handful of Red Sox players debuted a new slogan before the game, wearing red T-shirts that read: "3 lines, 2 Chainz, 1 goal." .ca. Hi Kerry, Appreciate all your insight into what goes on in games. Im just looking for an explanation - in Wednesdays Flyers-Capitals game, why didnt Wayne Simmonds receive a third-man in during the line brawl last night? He clearly grabbed Erskine, who was engaged with Lecavalier, allowing Vinnie a free cheap-shot right to the mush!Thanks,Chris --- Hey Kerry, Seeing the Flyers-Caps line brawl last night, whats the most interesting story from your officiating days when it came to breaking them up? 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The Professional Referee Organization, which manages game officials for the U.S. Soccer Federation and MLS, notified the Professional Soccer Referee Association of the lockout and said replacement officials will be used.GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Michael Brantley was smoothly sidestepping a question about whether he should have won the Gold Glove for going an entire season in the outfield without an error. His boss interrupted him in midsentence. "He should have won the Gold Glove," Cleveland Indians general manager Chris Antonetti said. Brantleys response matched his "Dr. Smooth" nickname. He kept right on going, talking about everyone except himself. "Its about winning baseball games," Brantley said. His devotion to that answer helped him get a $25 million, four-year contract on Thursday as the Indians opened spring training. A player who was the last piece in the deal for pitcher CC Sabathia in 2008 is now recognized as one of the Indians core players. Brantley batted a team-leading .284 last season, when Cleveland ended a five-year playoff drought. The Indians lost to Tampa Bay 4-0 in the wild-card game. The challenge is to keep getting better. The Indians decided that the 26-year-old can be instrumental that way. He avoided arbitration by agreeing to the deal, which he signed after passing a physical. Brantley gets a $3.5 million signing bonus and salaries of $1.5 million this year, $5 million in 2015, $6.5 million in 2016 and $7.5 million in 2017. Cleveland has an $11.5 million option for 2018 with a $1 million buyout. His 2017 salary would increase by $1 million if hes among the top five in MVP voting in any year from 2014-16 and would go up by $500,000 if he finishes sixth to 10th. The option price would be boosted by $1 million if hes among the top five from 2014-17 and by $500,000 if he finishes sixth to 10th. "He is a complete player," Antonetti said. "He is a tireless worker, a great teammate, a complete professional in every sense of the word. When youre making investments of this magnitude, those are the things you look for. He embodies everything we look for in our players. "His entire focus is on the team. A lot of guys talk about that and will give the surface, Hey, Im a team pplayer.dddddddddddd. Michael lives that every day." He proved it last season. Brantley was slotted as the leadoff hitter and centre fielder until the Indians signed Michael Bourn. He agreed to move to left field and floated around in the batting order, hitting everywhere from first through eighth as manager Terry Francona rested regulars. Brantley set career highs with 26 doubles, 10 homers, 73 RBIs and 66 runs. He also stole 17 bases in 21 attempts. And he went the entire season without making an error in his new outfield spot. "Those are the players that you value because regardless of what their personal goals are or their aspirations, theyre able to put the team goals ahead of it," Francona said. "And thats a good example. We all know he wanted to play centre field, and he moved to left. And he probably preferred to stay in one spot in the order, but he moved around. "And he did it willingly." Brantley was part of a four-player package that the Indians got from Milwaukee on July 7, 2008. Originally, it was three players and one to be announced after the season. Brantley heard that he would be the final piece in the deal, which was completed on Oct. 3. Little did the Indians know he would end up being the biggest prize in the package, which included first baseman Matt LaPorta. "In bringing Michael over, we had some sense of those things," Antonetti said. "But Im not sure we could fully appreciate how great of a worker he was, how great of a teammate he was, how driven he was to be successful." Notes: Francona isnt sure where Brantley will bat this season, but said its possible he could move around in the order again. ... The Indians were prepared for an arbitration hearing Friday with RHP Josh Tomlin, who is asking for $975,000. The team has offered $800,000. RHP Justin Masterson also has an arbitration hearing pending. He is seeking $11.8 million, while the club offered $8.05 million. AP Sports Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report. cheap jerseys cheap jerseys china cheap jerseys wholesale jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '