Red Sox Place LHP Rich Hill on 15-Day DL

The Boston Red Sox today placed left-handed pitcher Rich Hill on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to yesterday) with a left elbow strain and recalled right-handed pitcher Mark Melancon from Triple-A Pawtucket.  Melancon will be active for today’s game against the Nationals at Fenway Park.

The announcement was made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington. 

Hill, 32, is 1-0 with a 2.63 ERA (4 ER/13.2 IP) in 17 relief appearances with the Red Sox this year.  He began the season on the 15-day disabled list while recovering from Tommy John surgery, performed June 9, 2011, and was activated on April 27.  Signed by the Red Sox as a minor league free agent on June 30, 2010, the left-hander is 2-0 with a 1.40 ERA (4 ER/25.2 IP) in 32 games out of the bullpen with Boston, allowing runs in just three of those outings.  In 110 career Major League appearances (70 starts) between the Cubs (2005-08), Orioles (2009) and Red Sox (2010-12), Hill owns a 23-20 record with a 4.66 ERA (218 ER/421.0 IP) and 381 strikeouts.

The 27-year-old Melancon has collected 11 saves while posting a 0.83 ERA (2 ER/21.1 IP) with 27 strikeouts compared to three walks in 21 games since he was optioned to Pawtucket on April 18.  His 11 saves are tied for the most in the International League since April 18 and he has held opponents to a .185 clip (15-for-81).  He was 0-2 in four relief appearances for Boston to begin the year, allowing 11 runs over 2.0 innings.  Acquired from Houston on December 14, 2011, the right-hander is 10-7 with 20 saves, a 4.03 ERA (51 ER/114.0 IP) and 99 strikeouts in 110 Big League appearances, all as a reliever, with the Yankees (2009-10), Astros (2010-11) and Red Sox (2012).