Knuckleballer Wright promoted; Wilson sent down

BOSTON -- Steven Wright, who spent some time with the Red Sox last season, was promoted from Triple-A Pawtucket on Sunday for his first Majors stint in 2014.

The knuckleballer, who has been a starter at Triple-A, will work out of the bullpen.

Alex Wilson was sent back down to the Minors after working 2 1/3 innings in Saturday's loss.

"We needed it," Farrell said of Wright's promotion. "Needed length, we needed another fresh arm. He's been throwing a lot of strikes. He's pitched out of the bullpen for us here in the past. In the event that something we're to happen unforeseen to Clay [Buchholz] early on [in Sunday's game], we needed to protect ourselves with length."

At Pawtucket, Wright is 5-2 with a 2.80 ERA in 11 starts.

"I think the biggest thing is his strike throwing ability has been consistent and the action to the pitch has also been as consistent as the strike throwing," Farrell said. "There's a uniqueness to his style, we know. A contrast. And this isn't the first time he's been here."