Boston, MA – The Boston Red Sox have recalled pitcher Daniel Bard from Double-A Portland and optioned pitcher Steven Wright to Triple-A Pawtucket.
Bard struggled in spring training, allowing seven runs -- six earned -- on nine hits and four walks in eight innings. He has been trying to regain the form that made him one of the top setup men in baseball from 2009-11.
The Red Sox tried to turn him into a starter last spring and the hard-throwing right-hander was 4-6 with a 5.30 ERA in 10 outings. He was sent down in June and returned to his reliever's role.
In 199 career games out of the bullpen, Bard has a 3.21 ERA with 217 strikeouts in 202 innings.
Bard made eight relief appearances for Portland in 2013 and was 0-1 with a 4.00 ERA in nine innings.
Wright made his major league debut in relief on Tuesday night against Oakland and allowed five runs on six hits with four walks and four strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings of Boston's 13-0 loss.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.