This just in from Red Sox PR Central:
FORT MYERS, FL — The Boston Red Sox today optioned lefthanded pitcher Kason Gabbard to Triple-A Pawtucket of the International League.
The announcement was made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein.
The move leaves 40 players in Boston’s major league spring training camp.
Gabbard made four starts, finishing with a 2.70 ERA over 10 innings. He appears to be the perfect candidate to serve as the starting rotation’s Pawtucket safety valve until Jon Lester is up to speed.
The Red Sox also announced after the game that Mike Timlin would start the season on the disabled list, most likely forcing him to miss just the first road trip.
Also of note from the Red Sox’s 6-5 win over Minnesota tonight was that Joel Pineiro notched his first save, going one inning and giving up one hit and no runs. He now hasn’t surrendered a run in six straight appearances. Josh Beckett also struck out eight batters while not walking anyone. Thus far this spring, he has 17 punch-outs and just one walk, and that doesn’t include the five strikeouts he notched in two innings against Northeastern.
Offensively, Mike Lowell hit his team-leading third homer of the spring, and J.D. Drew upped his preseason batting average to .440 with two his in three at-bats.
