Workman to make first big league start Sunday

OAKLAND -- The Red Sox nearly lost Brandon Workman to the A's during negotiations for Rich Harden in 2011. Now they're relying on the 24-year-old to make his first Major League start in Sunday's series finale in Oakland.

Workman, who is ranked Boston's No. 3 prospect by MLB.com, allowed three runs in two innings of relief on Wednesday during his Major League debut. The former second-round pick surrendered a home run to the first batter he faced and followed that with consecutive doubles to the next two batters he faced in his first inning but came back to retire the side in his second frame of work.

Manager John Farrell said the two innings came on Workman's normal fifth day and his 47 pitches thrown "puts him in line to be fresh and ready for Sunday."

The right-hander was the 2012 Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Year after going 10-8 with a 3.50 ERA with stints in Class A Salem and Double-A Portland and went 5-1 with a 3.43 ERA and 74 strike outs in 65 1/3 innings for Portland this season.

Workman went 3-1 with a 2.80 ERA in six starts this season with Triple-A Pawtucket before his promotion on June 5.