BOSTON -- All things considered, Clay Buchholz didn’t want to pitch in Syracuse Friday night, and it showed.

And given the way things went for the Sox Friday night, maybe Buchholz should have been allowed to pitch here.

Buchholz, who was eligible to come off the DL Friday, was sent to pitch for Pawtucket in Syracuse instead. Since he last pitched June 26 in San Francisco, the day he strained his left hamstring running the bases, manager Terry Francona said the team wanted Buchholz a chance to get the “rust” off.

The Sox started left-hander Felix Doubront, who left in the fifth after his second throwing error put two runners in scoring position with one out. Fernando Cabrera, who was just promoted from Pawtucket in a swap with Robert Manuel, went walk, bases-loaded walk, grand slam, and five runs later, the Sox trailed, 7-3.

Buchholz, meanwhile, who began the week in Anaheim for the All-Star Game but could not play, had the kind of pitching line Friday night that suggested his mind may have been elsewhere. He gave up a home run. He committed a balk. He hit a batter. In all, he pitched 3 2/3 innings, giving up a couple of runs on four hits, walking one and striking out two.

He threw 60 pitches, 33 strikes, to the 16 batters he faced, before his night came to an end. He’s now on track to pitch Wednesday afternoon in Oakland. PawSox broadcaster Dan Hoard said Buchholz registered 96 miles an hour on the gun.