The Red Sox recalled right-hander Michael Bowden from Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday prior to their series opener in Toronto.
It is already the third stint with Boston this season for the right-handed Bowden, who pitched two scoreless innings in his only appearance in the majors this year on May 30. He is 2-2 with five saves and a 3.86 ERA in 20 games for the PawSox.
To make room for Bowden on the active roster, the Red Sox optioned catcher Luis Exposito to Pawtucket. The 24-year-old Exposito was rushed to New York on Wednesday to serve as the backup catcher when Jarrod Saltalamacchia became ill during the Yankees series.
Saltalamacchia is back in the starting lineup for the opener vs. the Blue Jays, making Exposito expendable. Exposito did not see any game action in his two days with the big club.
The Boston bullpen was operating with only six pitchers before adding Bowden into the mix, and Alfredo Aceves may still be a day or two from being able to pitch again after tossing 3 2/3 innings on Wednesday.
