The Red Sox recalled right-handed reliever Scott Atchison from Triple-A Pawtucket prior to Monday's game at Tampa Bay. Infielder Angel Sanchez, who was selected to the team's major league roster last week and made one start at shortstop, was optioned to Pawtucket to make room for Atchison.
The 34-year-old Atchison was 1-0 with a 1.64 ERA in eight relief appearances for the PawSox since being optioned from Boston on April 27. He had 15 strikeouts in just 11 innings.
In seven games for the Red Sox in April, Atchison went 0-1 with a 6.10 ERA.
This is Atchison's first major league season since 2007 when he was a member of the San Francisco Giants. He pitched the last two years with the Hanshin Tigers of Japan's Central League.
Manager Terry Francona indicated over the weekend in Philadelphia that he liked having an extra infielder in Sanchez on the bench in a National League park. But with a return to American League play a 12th pitcher became more valuable to the club.
Sanchez, 26, started in place of shortstop Marco Scutaro on Thursday for his first major league action since 2006 when he was with Kansas City. He returns to Pawtucket with a .313 (41-for-131) average.
