Red Sox starter: ‘It’s nice to ... not feel like I should just retire’

Red Sox starter Walker Buehler delivers during the first inning against the Rays at Fenway Park on Thursday. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)AP

Starter Walker Buehler didn’t love the way he pitched Thursday. He also didn’t hate it.

“Obviously the way the year has gone, this is a good start for me," Buehler said.

Buehler received a no-decision in the Red Sox’ 4-3 comeback victory over the Rays here at Fenway Park.

The 30-year-old righty pitched 6 innings, allowing three runs on five hits (two homers) and three walks while striking out two.

He felt like he battled through some “sticky spots."

“And some spots where I lost the delivery for a second," Buehler said. “Since we figured out what exactly I’m trying to fix, I think things have started improving. My gut feeling is there’ll be one start that everything is back. And so I don’t think tonight was it. But I certainly made a lot of pitches that I was really happy with tonight, and a couple that I wasn’t.”

Buehler posted a 6.12 ERA in 16 starts during the first half. But he will head into the All-Star Break with some reassurance after two solid starts to close out the first half. He allowed two earned runs in 5 innings to beat the Nationals on Saturday.

"It’s nice to go through a week and a prep, the five days or whatever, and not feel like I should just retire," Buehler said. “I don’t think I’m going to retire anytime soon, but you get into some really dark places and that’s what happens.”

Buehler said he spent the last two weeks enjoying the process. He said he feels like he’s still trying to survive every start to get to his next bullpen to work on things.

“Even when I was throwing the ball really, really well, I was always tinkering, and that was kind of well known,” Buehler said. “So to get back to that feeling — instead of kind of pure panic of how could I ever get anyone out — I think (is important). More so than even what happens on the field, I think that feeling is important for me. It kind of makes me really excited about not only our group, but hopefully being a part of it for this run at the end.”

Elevating his arm angle is something he’s focused on.

“The move that I made when I was really good is something that not many people did and isn’t something you can really practice in a practical kind of baseball lesson setting," Buehler said. “It’s just one of those things where you have to feel it a lot of times and trust it. Even today, probably 70% of the throws were more like I want them. Surviving the other 30% I think is the name of the game. In Anaheim (June 23), I probably made three throws that I liked. So we’re kind of improving rapidly."

Buehler’s optimum angle is close to 50 degrees but it has often measured at 40 degrees this season.

"I’m having so much fun playing here and this group is awesome in a lot of different ways," he said. ”I really hope I get to be a part of this run.”