Melancon red-hot in Minors, but Sox stand pat

KANSAS CITY -- A day after manager Bobby Valentine needed his bullpen to throw 12 1/3 innings (not including the one inning by position player Darnell McDonald), it wouldn't have been surprising to see another pitcher or two added to the roster.

But the Red Sox instead decided to stand pat rather than call up Mark Melancon, who has been red-hot at Triple-A Pawtucket since his demotion.

"[Assistant general manager] Brian [O'Halloran] came in the office last night. I wasn't thinking all that clearly," Valentine said. "You know, it would have meant taking someone who doesn't deserve to go down off the roster, and considering nobody pitched on consecutive days, other than [Scott] Atchison, we'll see what we have. We might have enough. We hope so."

While Melancon has probably regained enough confidence to rejoin the team, there's no clear-cut move the Red Sox could make at this point to open up a spot for him.

One scenario could have been to option Clayton Mortensen back to Pawtucket, but the righty has pitched well since being called up, and he also gives Valentine more length than the other relievers.

"You know, a lot of things go into these decisions," Valentine said. "It sure seems like [Melancon's] pitching well enough."

In seven games for Pawtucket, Melancon hasn't given up a run in 7 2/3 innings. He's walked none and struck out 12.

"He's doing fine. He's doing really well, yeah," said Valentine. "I have very good reports on him."