Clay Buchholz is proving to be the ace Boston needed.

Buchholz went the distance Saturday afternoon, pitching the Sox to a 6-1 victory over the Astros.

The 30-year-old's complete game was the staff's first of 2015 and provided Boston's bullpen some much needed rest. Buchholz struck out eight in the win and kept Houston off the board until two strikes and two outs in the ninth.

In his last four starts, Buchholz is 4-0 with 23 strikeouts, two walks, and three earned runs in 31 innings.

The Sox' offense was led by Mookie Betts, 2-for-3 with 3-RBI, and Xander Bogaerts, 2-for-4 with 2-RBI. Shane Victorino returned from a long absence, going 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and light-hitting catcher Sandy Leon tied a season-high with three hits.

Boston will hand the ball to Eddie Rodriguez Sunday at 1:35 p.m. as the Sox look to claim their third consecutive series win.

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