BOSTON -- Clay Buchholz, the rookie right-hander who was optioned to Pawtucket a few weeks ago to work on his arm slot and consistency with his fastball command, has not been dazzling anyone with his results.

Monday night Buchholz was lifted after three innings and 73 pitches, but the goal, explained manager Terry Francona, was to work especially on his fastball, even though he may have been able to get more outs and work more innings by using his devastatingly effective offspeed pitches to get out Triple A hitters.

"He can be special," said Francona. "He's healthy. He has a few things we would like him to work on. He can get frustrated, but we're not frustrated."