NEW YORK -- When Brayan Bello was summoned back to the Majors on Sunday, just five weeks after the Red Sox optioned their inconsistent starting pitcher to Triple-A, there was some curiosity about the timing of the move.
It wound up being perfect, and helped pave the way for Boston’s memorable 3-2 win over the Mets in 10 innings.
The Red Sox had decided to cut rookie lefty Payton Tolle’s workload short heading into the All-Star break, and Bello piggybacked him.
After Tolle allowed one run over 3 2/3 innings while walking one and striking out seven, Bello took it from there, holding the Mets to a pair of hits over 4 1/3 innings in which he had no walks and five punchouts while allowing one run on a Francisco Lindor solo shot.
When Bello exited, the Sox were within range at 2-0. And Boston scored two in the ninth and one in the 10th to pull ahead, while Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock did the rest on the pitching side.
“It was really good execution today,” said Bello. “I was competing in the strike zone. It felt good. Long time in the Minor Leagues, but it felt great to be back in the big leagues.”
The Red Sox also have a doubleheader against the Rays coming on Friday’s first day after the All-Star break.
Is Bello in play for that, either as a starter or a reliever?
“I think everybody's in play for that. We have to figure out that day, and we get the 27th man, having as many [pitchers] as possible,” said interim manager Chad Tracy. “The key there is getting through those two games and not putting it to where you overly tax your bullpen on Day One out of the break, and then you still have a lot of games to play. So we'll figure out what's best, how to get through that other game and go from there.”
The 27-year-old Bello had a 6.34 ERA in 12 games (eight starts) for the Red Sox before his demotion to Triple-A on June 5. Including Sunday’s effort, Bello has a 0.91 ERA this season in five outings as a bulk reliever.
For Worcester, Bello has made four starts, recording a 4.34 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings. Getting Bello back to the point he was at last season, when he was a solid No. 2 starter for the Red Sox, remains a work in progress.
“They say his work ethic's been great. He’s done everything they've asked,” said Tracy. “He's put in a lot of work, taken down the starts he's supposed to take down, and comes out the next day and he's ready to get to work again in between starts. Big picture, we knew what was coming down the pike here, and getting things lined up to where we have enough [pitchers] to make sure we get through this to the All-Star break, and then get ready for after the break.”
To make room for Bello on the roster, lefty reliever Danny Coulombe was designated for assignment.