Clayton Mortensen Becomes Latest Red Sox Reliever to Step Up, Bullpen Continues to Impress

Bobby Valentine summed it up pretty well following a disappointing loss on Monday night in Oakland. The Red Sox skipper broke it down in a good news/bad news kind of way saying that it was discouraging to see what Daisuke Matsuzaka did, but quickly added that he was impressed with Clayton Mortensen.

Mortensen, who was called on out of the pen in the second inning of what would be a 6-1 loss, turned in five brilliant innings of mop-up to help save the Red Sox relief corps.

It was just the latest impressive performance from a Red Sox reliever. The bullpen has arguably been the club's biggest strength this season, something that's even more impressive when you think back to the disastrous start to the season the relievers endured.