Red Sox Send Reliever Melancon To Pawtucket

April 18, 2012 3:05 PM

Mark Melancon #37 of the Boston Red Sox pitches in the eleventh inning during a MLB game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on April 8, 2012 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers won 13-12 in extra innings (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)

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BOSTON (CBS) – The Red Sox have sent Mark Melancon to Triple-A Pawtucket, hoping the reliever can work out whatever issues are plaguing him in the minors.

Boston called up reliever Junichi Tazawa to take Melancon’s roster spot and was active for Wednesday’s game.

Melancon is off to a rough first year with Boston after being acquired this off-season from the Houston Astros. Once a candidate to be Boston’s closer, the 27-year-old is 0-2 with a blown save and a 49.50 ERA after four appearances.

The reliever gave up six runs and three home runs to the Texas Rangers Tuesday night without recording an out, bringing his home run total up to five in just two innings pitched for the season.

Tazawa, 25, has made four scoreless relief appearances for the PawSox this season with one save, striking out nine batters with just two walks and five hits allowed over 7.0 innings.