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Buchholz after getting pulled in 5th: 'I thought I got traded'

Adam Glanzman / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Clay Buchholz thought his career with the Boston Red Sox was over.

After holding the Oakland Athletics to four runs and six hits over five innings, the right-hander got the hook after 87 pitches as manager John Farrell informed him his day was done.

After doing so, well, Buchholz said he was more than just a little surprised.

"I didn't really know what was going on," Buchholz told Masslive.com's Jen McCaffrey after a 14-7 Red Sox win. "I thought I got traded or something. I'd have liked to have gone back out for the sixth, but I'm not the manager."

In seven starts this season, Buchholz has eclipsed the 100-pitch mark twice, while never throwing less than 94 pitches. It was his shortest outing since April 12, when he gave up five runs and five hits over five innings.

But on Monday, he said he felt good, even against one of Oakland's better hitters, Stephen Vogt.

"I threw him some good pitches to get through that at-bat and that inning," he said. "I wasn't expecting not to go back out for the sixth."

When Farrell was approached about why he pulled his right-hander, he cited a fresh bullpen after Steven Wright pitched a complete game the night prior against the New York Yankees.

"Likely could have gone deeper but felt like with the number of pitches thrown, where we were in the lineup, coming to the fourth time through the order, wanted to make a move," Farrell said. "We were well rested with the bullpen to set up for these next two days.

"Felt like we had some guys who could use some work."

Buchholz, a 2005 first-round draft pick, has spent his entire 10-year career with Boston. Over that time, he's racked up two All-Star appearances and two World Series rings.

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