Masterson sent down to build up relief work

Two things can cure a good team from the doldrums. One is returning to its home field after a 3-7 road trip (which featured six one-run losses) and winning a one-run game, 1-0, last night over the Twins. Another is a good, swift kick in pants, a shakeup if you will.

Nobody in the Red Sox hierarchy is cut from the Hank Steinbrenner cloth, however. There are not going to be any declarations, threats, or ultimatums from John Henry, Larry Lucchino, or Theo Epstein to a team that started yesterday seven games behind in the loss column to the Rays.

So what will the Sox do? Come up with internal solutions first. The best news of the day was the approximately 30 pain-free swings (four for home runs) that David Ortiz took in his first live batting practice since injuring his left wrist May 31. The other news involved trying to fix a growing problem - the bullpen - with solutions from within.

The Sox announced that Justin Masterson will return to Pawtucket to make relief appearances as a prelude to returning in that role. Clay Buchholz will come up Friday to start against the Orioles. First baseman/outfielder Jeff Bailey was called up yesterday and likely will go back down Friday to make room for Buchholz.

Masterson's rubber arm seems suited for multiple roles, and with Buchholz coming back on the scene and Bartolo Colon progressing in his throwing program, the Sox appear to have plenty of starters but their bullpen has been inconsistent, at best. The team has been particularly concerned about Hideki Okajima finding his splitter again, although he escaped a bases-loaded jam last night in the eighth and got the win.

The Sox have scouts searching for an arm they could add to the bullpen, but they'd rather do it from within. Masterson's sinker has been devastating against righthanders, against whom he's allowed a .170 average.

Lefthanders have only hit .236 against him but have drawn 21 walks and tagged him for six homers.

Manager Terry Francona said, "We think he has a chance to be really effective against righthanded hitters."

"I'm excited," said Masterson, who will make his first relief appearance for Pawtucket tomorrow, and is scheduled to pitch again Friday and Sunday. "This is nice. When I got here I kind of knew with the great starting staff we had that when they get healthy they're going to do their job. They want me to go down and get some relief work down there and that's what I'm gonna do."

The personable righty, who played his collegiate ball under Tony Gwynn at San Diego State, was last used exclusively as a reliever in the Cape Cod League for the Wareham Gatemen.

"What they kind of said in their mind is the possibilities are endless," said Masterson. "This is one of the avenues we're taking. We're undergoing it right now. We'll try this. It doesn't mean I'm not going to be a starter again. It was one of those things where I came on a team where the five starters were good and they said, 'We'd really like to use you in the pen.' I said 'Will that keep me on the team?' They said, 'Yeah.'

"Whatever it is, I just love to pitch. That gets me back up here."

Masterson added, "My arm usually feels good the day after I start. The guys usually make fun of me because it usually doesn't take me long to warm up before a start. I usually go out and warm for 15-20 minutes for a start. If you're blessed with an arm like that, you might be good for that role [relieving]."

Masterson, 4-3 with a 3.67 ERA in nine starts, said being around the big club has taught him a lot about situations and the mental aspect of the game.

"Now there's a chance I'll come in to someone else's bases-loaded situation and have to do the same thing I do when I'm in that situation," Masterson said. "I think I've totally prepared myself for that."

Masterson said he doesn't view this as a demotion.

"They're very nice about appreciating what I've done so far and they think the benefits of what I can do will continue to grow," he said. "It's not like it's, 'Go down and get better.' It's, 'We have confidence in you, and if we have a need we can fill it as we go.' Hopefully later in the season, postseason and World Series."

He's a keeper

The Sox had kept Buchholz in the minors to work on his fastball release, and he did that while keeping a positive attitude. Buchholz was 4-2 with a 2.47 ERA in nine starts at Pawtucket with 43 strikeouts and 17 walks. He is still the apple of many scouts' eyes.

A few of them had been under the impression the Sox might be willing to part with him in a major deal, but they appear even more determined to keep him.

The Indians certainly had their eye on Buchholz in any possible CC Sabathia trade, but the Tribe found out Buchholz was not available.

In starting against the Orioles Friday, he'll of course be facing the team he no-hit last Sept. 1, 10-0, at Fenway Park.

Ortiz takes swings

Ortiz had a productive first outdoor BP session since suffering a partial tear of the sheath in his wrist.

"It really didn't hurt," he said. "I took some good, full swings and hit the ball hard. I'll probably be sore tomorrow, but I think it felt really good to get out there and swing real BP. It's the next test for me."

The timetable on the slugger still is for a return sometime after the All-Star break.

One of the true tests presumably will be once he starts playing in games and swings and misses. Ortiz, who didn't grimace or wince when he swung yesterday, didn't think it would be too much of an issue.

"After this week when I hit on the field, I will know [the date when he could return]," said Ortiz. "That will be my last step before I start playing."

"I think it's an injury that takes time," he added. "When you are swinging and swinging and swinging, it's not gonna feel 100 percent. But once you recover from it, it should be OK. That's what the people I've talked to who have had the injury have told me."

Not a Bonds market

Epstein said there was nothing to speculation the Sox might consider Barry Bonds if Ortiz were out for a prolonged period . . . Manny Ramírez was back in the lineup last night as the DH. Ramírez certainly raised some eyebrows when he took three straight cut fastballs from Mariano Rivera while striking out in the ninth inning of Sunday night's loss. "It's not the first time I've seen Manny take three pitches like that," said Ortiz. "I think Manny's gonna be fine. I think Manny cools off and he heats up. He goes back and forth. He'll be fine." Ramírez came through last night, delivering an RBI single in the eighth for the game's only run . . . This is Bailey's second stint this season with the Sox. He was hitless in three at-bats in his first go-round. He was hitting .301 with 23 homers, 17 doubles, and 61 RBIs in 79 games at Pawtucket. He played first base and in the outfield and was the leadoff hitter . . . Matt LaPorta, the best prospect among the four the Brewers gave Cleveland to acquire Sabathia, was drafted in the 14th round by the Sox in 2006 after his junior season at Florida, but he elected to stay for his senior year because he had had such a bad season. The 6-foot-2-inch, 215-pound righthanded-hitting corner outfielder had 20 homers and 66 RBIs at Double A Huntsville . . . On hand before the game were former Sox manager Joe Morgan and ex-Sox catcher Doug Mirabelli, currently enjoying retirement.