Red Sox option Melancon, promote Tazawa

Mark Melancon

redsox.com:  BOSTON -- When the Red Sox traded for Mark Melancon four months ago, they envisioned him as a possible ace setup man who could even serve as insurance at closer. Perhaps some of that will eventually come true, but the right-hander has hit a crisis point in his first couple of weeks of the season, and was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket before Wednesday night's game against the Rangers.

The Red Sox have summoned Japanese right-hander Junichi Tazawa from Pawtucket to take Melancon's spot on the roster.

Melancon was shelled by the Rangers on Tuesday, giving up four hits, six runs, two walks and three home runs while not retiring a batter.

The righty has pitched in four games and allowed at least one run in each of them, posting an ERA of 49.50 over two innings.

Last year, Melancon pitched in 71 games for the Astros, fashioning a 2.78 ERA while notching 20 saves.

Tazawa underwent Tommy John Surgery in 2010 and pitched most of last season in the Minors.

This year for Pawtucket, Tazawa didn't allow a run in his first four outings, walking two and striking out nine.