Red Sox RHP Clay Buchholz leaves start at San Francisco after 1 inning because of knee injury

Boston RHP Buchholz leaves start with knee injury

SAN FRANCISCO — Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz hopes to make his next scheduled start despite an injured knee, though it could be delayed by a day or two.

“I hope so, that’s what we’re shooting for,” Buchholz said Saturday after Boston’s 4-2 win over the San Francisco Giants.

Buchholz was removed from his outing after one inning because of a hyperextended left knee that he hurt while running the bases.

Buchholz singled in the top of the second and was injured moments later running between first and second on Marco Scutaro’s inning-ending double play. Buchholz (10-4), Boston’s only pitcher with double-digit wins, grabbed his left hamstring area in the dugout. He quickly improved after that, a positive sign to the Red Sox training staff and manager Terry Francona.

“I think we all panicked right away,” Francona said. “He got in the dugout and was struggling. He got back in the clubhouse and had good range of motion. … It didn’t look good. It kind of scared all of us. Long-term he’s going to be OK.”

American League pitchers like Buchholz aren’t used to hitting and running the bases. Because of the designated hitter rule, they only do it during interleague road games. Sometimes, that makes them susceptible to injury.

Chien-Ming Wang hurt his foot trying to score for the New York Yankees in Houston a few years ago. Arm problems followed and he hasn’t been able to rediscover his previous success on the mound.

Buchholz said he was indecisive about whether to try to break up the double play and pulled up at the last minute, feeling a pop in his hamstring area behind the knee.

“It was indecisiveness on my part running into second base,” he said. “I felt a little pop behind my knee. … I said, ‘I’ll go ahead and stride down to second base’ and when the ball was hit, reaction took over. At the last second I was going to bail away.”

He still thinks he can take his next turn in the rotation, which could be pushed back because of upcoming off days Monday and Thursday. Buchholz was set to be examined further on Sunday.

Scott Atchison came in to start the bottom of the second and earned the win.

Buchholz’s hit was the first of his career.

“I love hitting and running the bases, but not doing it in five years, it’s an art,” he said.