Red Sox recall right-handed pitcher Zach Stewart from Triple-A Pawtucket; option right-handed pitcher Clayton Mortensen to Double-A Portland

BOSTON, MA -- The Boston Red Sox today recalled right-handed pitcher Zach Stewart from Triple-A Pawtucket.  The club also announced that right-handed pitcher Clayton Mortensen was optioned to Double-A Portland following last night’s game.  Stewart is scheduled to start tonight’s game against the Angels in Anaheim and will wear No. 47.

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

The 25-year-old Stewart was acquired from the Chicago White Sox on June 24 along with Brent Lillibridge in exchange for Kevin Youkilis and cash considerations.  He was assigned to Triple-A Pawtucket, where he made 11 starts, going 3-5 with a 3.94 ERA (26 ER/59.1 IP) and 42 strikeouts compared to 14 walks.  In his time with the PawSox, he ranked second among club hurlers in ERA, opponent average (.252), innings pitched (59.1) and starts (11) and held right-handed batters to a .244 clip (29-for-119) with just seven extra-base hits allowed (4 doubles, 3 home runs).  The right-hander began the season with 18 appearances (1 start) for the White Sox, going 1-2 with a 6.00 ERA (20 ER/30.0 IP) and 16 strikeouts.  He has pitched in 31 career Major League games (12 starts) with the Blue Jays (2011) and White Sox (2011-12), posting a 5.92 ERA (64 ER/97.1 IP) with 61 strikeouts compared to 22 walks.  A third-round pick of the Reds in 2008, Stewart has gone 21-19 with a 3.19 ERA (154 ER/434.1 IP) and 356 strikeouts in 112 minor league games (68 starts) in the Cincinnati (2008-09), Toronto (2009-11), Chicago (2011) and Boston (2012) systems.

Mortensen, 27, has appeared in 19 games for Boston this season, all in relief, over five Major League stints.  The right-hander is 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA (8 ER/32.0 IP) and 26 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .211 clip (24-for-114).  He has also appeared in 24 games for the PawSox in 2012, all in relief, going 5-3 with two saves, a 1.91 ERA (8 ER/37.2 IP) and 36 strikeouts.  Acquired by Boston from Colorado in January, Mortensen has appeared in 43 Major League games (13 starts) between the Cardinals (2009), Athletics (2009-10), Rockies (2011) and Red Sox (2012), going 5-9 with a 4.39 ERA (62 ER/127.0 IP) and 76 strikeouts, including a 2.91 ERA (19 ER/58.2 IP) in 30 Big League relief appearances.