Doubront moving closer to return after rehab start

BALTIMORE -- Though he didn't have a spectacular stat line, Red Sox lefty Felix Doubront got the work he needed in his second Minor League rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket on Tuesday. Doubront, whose next start on Sunday will probably be his last before coming back to the Red Sox, went 4 2/3 innings and gave up six hits and two runs, walking one and striking out three. He threw 75 pitches, 44 for strikes.

"The more important thing is watching him in his bullpens between the two outings and leading up to it, and hearing him talk about how he feels the ball is coming out of his hand," said manager John Farrell. "Clearly, there's improvement being made. But we know our plan is to have him go one more start with Pawtucket to have him get up and down six different times, and that will be five days from now."

Doubront has been on the disabled list since May 21 with a left shoulder strain.

Clay Buchholz (hyperextended left knee) will start his Minor League rehab assignment for Pawtucket on Friday.

"Physically, [Buchholz] says he feels good, and we were able to identify a couple of things in the delivery that he thinks and we think can help him," said general manager Ben Cherington. "Typically, players don't go from struggling to lights-out overnight, but there are some tangible things that he's identified that will help him, and he's been doing that. He's been working on that. He'll pitch in the Minor Leagues a little bit to start, and we'll see where we are."