Reinvented Buchholz standing out

PHOENIX — The young Clay Buchholz used the scouting report merely as a suggestion.

He glanced at it, made a couple of mental notes, but basically threw whatever pitch was working or felt right in the situation. His stuff was that good.

The veteran Buchholz relies much more on the scouting report. His stuff not quite as electric, the right-hander also has to use his mind to get hitters out.

It’s certainly working. Following a series of injury-plagued seasons, Buchholz has used a more targeted approach to revistarts. talize his career and become a key cog in the Diamondbacks’ push to a second straight playoff appearance.

“I try to pitch to hitters’ weaknesses a lot more than I used to,” Buchholz said. “I’ve gotten a lot better at knowing what part of the scouting report I can (use) and what I can do with it, rather than taking it all in and forgetting some of it and being unsure.

“I have a lot of other eyes on the whole scenario for me too.”

Buchholz has arguably been the Diamondbacks’ best pitcher since signing with them May 5, going 7-2 with a 2.25 ERA in 13 He has won six of his last seven starts and has an eightgame streak of pitching at least five innings and allowing three runs or fewer.

“I feel I have a lot pitches left in me,” Buchholz, 34, said. “I’ve been hurt a lot and (I) haven’t thrown as many pitches as a normal 10-year major-league guy. I feel good right now.”

Said Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo: “I think Clay has finally gotten to a point where he’s realized the type of pitcher he needs to be. I see him adapting to a game plan and making adjustments to hitters in different ways.”