CHICAGO — In an effort to boost his confidence and reaffirm their own support, manager Terry Francona and pitching coach John Farrell met with struggling starter Clay Buchholz yesterday, a day after Buchholz had failed to get an out in the fourth inning and lost for the fifth time in his last six outings.

“We’ve been so committed to this guy,” said Francona. “We’re trying to help him. Last year (when Buchholz no-hit the Baltimore Orioles in his second major-league start), it looked easy; it’s not. So we’re trying to help him (and at the same time) not beat him over the head.”

Buchholz maintained Sunday that he pitched well despite being rocked for five runs on seven hits in three-plus innings.

Francona politely disagreed, saying that while Buchholz’s stuff was generally good, the execution didn’t always match.

He and Farrell made the point that Buchholz was experiencing some of the same growing pains that Jon Lester did the last two seasons. This season, Lester may be the team’s most consistent starting pitcher.

“There are some similarities,” said Francona, noting that as recently as early this season, Lester was still having trouble sustaining a consistent tempo on the mound.

Mostly, Francona wanted to deliver the message that the organization remains committed to Buchholz.

“I think he’s handled himself really well,” said Francona. “He’s trying to do the right things. It’s (all about) experience.”

smcadam@projo.com