Red Sox recall catcher Dan Butler from Triple-A Pawtucket and right-handed pitcher Anthony Ranaudo from Single-A Greenville

The Boston Red Sox today recalled catcher Dan Butler from Triple-A Pawtucket and right-handed pitcher Anthony Ranaudo from Single-A Greenville. Both will be active for tonight's series opener at Yankee Stadium beginning at 7:05 p.m.

Executive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington made the announcements.

Butler, 27, was with the Red Sox from August 2-19 for his first career major league stint. With Boston, the right-handed batter appeared in three games, all starts, and was hitless in his 11 at-bats with one walk. This year, he batted .241 (69-for-286) with 19 doubles, four homers, 30 RBI, 29 walks, and 35 runs scored in 83 games for Pawtucket. Over six minor league seasons in the Red Sox system, Butler has hit .256 (431-for-1,682) with 115 doubles, six triples, 47 home runs, and 241 RBI in 497 games, and he has thrown out 169 of 542 attempted base stealers (31%). The Red Sox signed the Phoenix, AZ native as a non-drafted free agent on July 28, 2009 out of the University of Arizona.

Ranaudo, 24, returns for a fourth stint with the Red Sox this season, his first in the major leagues. He is 3-0 with a 4.50 ERA (9 ER/18.0 IP) and seven strikeouts in three career big league starts, all since the start of August. He spent the majority of the season with Pawtucket, where he was named the International League's Pitcher of the Year and earned a spot on the IL's year-end All-Star team. For the PawSox, he led the IL in wins (14-4), ERA (2.61), and opponent batting average (.223), and fanned 111 batters compared to just 112 hits and 54 walks allowed in 138.0 innings pitched over 24 starts. He was optioned to Greenville on Saturday but did not appear in a game for the Drive. Signed as a supplemental round selection in the 2010 June Draft, he is 35-18 with a 3.46 ERA (170 ER/442.2 IP) and 382 strikeouts in 84 career minor league outings, including 83 starts.

With today's moves, Boston's active major league roster is now at 28.