BOSTON — Walker Buehler wanted to avoid potential obstacles on his way to Boston Marathon’s event, opting for a hotel stay the night before his Monday game to ensure a smooth start to his morning.
Instead of risking delays due to possible road closures on the marathon route, Buehler and his family made the practical decision to stay close to Fenway Park.
“You never know with traffic, so it just seemed easier to stay near the park,” he explained after the Boston team secured a 4-2 win against the White Sox in the traditional Patriots’ Day game. “We’re used to travel and hotel stays, so it didn’t feel like a big shift for us.”
Donning Boston’s white home jersey, reminiscent of the team spirit following the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013, Buehler threw his opening pitch at 11:11 a.m. While the late spring air was crisp, Buehler seemed unfazed as he started strong on Fenway’s iconic turf. “Prepped everything ahead of time,” he noted, regarding his routine relocation from nearby Newton. “Went home with my iPad, did my usual scouting prep; I was ready to go.”
Buehler quickly found his rhythm after conceding an early run. Over seven innings, he limited Chicago to four hits, striking out nine and allowing three walks over 100 pitches. Reflecting on the rarity of such an early game, he recalled his Double-A days back in 2017 with the Los Angeles Dodgers’ affiliates. “That was a fun one against Jack Flaherty on SpongeBob Squarepants Day,” he joked, reminiscing about past memories.