Kazmir pitches, fireworks follow when Bulls play Pawtucket Monday

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Kazmir pitches, fireworks follow when Bulls play Pawtucket Monday

Jun 21, 2009

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A top major league pitcher will be in Durham Monday when Tampa Bay's Scott Kazmir is scheduled to make a rehab appearance for the Durham Bulls.

Kazmir will face Boston Red Sox prospect Clay Buchholz when Pawtucket faces the Bulls on Monday at 7:05 p.m.

A special postgame fireworks display will follow the game.

Kazmir was placed on the disabled list with a strained quadriceps on May 21, and this is expected to be his only appearance in Durham this season. He saw his first game action since going on the disabled list for the Charlotte Stone Crabs Wednesday. Kazmir threw 64 pitches, 44 for strikes, fanned five, walked one and allowed just three hits over 4 2/3 innings. The two-time all-star is 51-41 with a 3.85 ERA and 818 strikeouts over the last six seasons.

Buchholz, a sandwich round pick (45th overall) by the Red Sox in 2005, got the nation’s attention in 2007 when, in just his second major league start, he pitched a no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles. He finished that season going 3-1 with a 1.59 ERA.

Buchholz struggled with Boston last season (2-9, 6.75 ERA), so he found himself back in Pawtucket, where he went 4-2 with a 2.47 ERA. This season, Buchholz is 5-0 with a 1.90 ERA with 65 strikeouts against only 17 walks in 71 innings pitched.