Red Sox call up Mortensen

BOSTONRight-hander Clayton Mortensen has been called up as the Red Sox 26th player active for todays doubleheader.

Major League Baseball instituted a new rule this season allowing teams to activate a 26th player for doubleheaders. This is the Sox first doubleheader this season.

Mortensen was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket Tuesday, after pitching five innings in Oakland the day before, to make room on the roster for right-hander Justin Germano.

Manager Bobby Valentine said there were extensive discussions regarding whom the team would call up.

There were conversations into the morning that were just guessing at what we might need and what we might need the most, Valentine said. So we decided to go with Mortensen, whos pretty durable pitcher, can pitch against both sides of the plate, and see if we cant have enough pitching to get through a doubleheader.

He pitched so well and we made a roster move and so now hes back. Hopefully hell pitch well if we need him.

Normally, a player who has been optioned has to wait 10 days before he can be brought back, unless there is an injury involved. That rule is suspended in the case of the 26th player being called up four doubleheaders. However, the player who is called up must return to his minor league team the next day.