BOSTON - The bullpen experiment by the Boston Red Sox
continued Monday as the American League East Division leaders
claimed righthander Chad Harville off waivers from the Houston
Astros.
Struggling to find a solution to their bullpen problems all
season, the Red Sox decided to take a chance on Harville, who
was 0-2 with a 4.46 ERA in 37 games with the Astros this season.
The 28-year-old likely will replace lefthander Mike Remlinger,
who was designated for assignment by Boston on Sunday.
A second-round pick of Oakland in 1997, Harville is 4-6 with one
save and a 4.94 ERA in 135 career relief appearances with the
Athletics and Astros. In 133 innings, he has 114 strikeouts and
78 walks.
Since the start of the 2005 campaign, the Red Sox have been
unable to find the right combination of relievers due to injury
and ineffectiveness, using a total of 18 pitchers out of the
bullpen.
Ace Curt Schilling returned to the rotation Thursday after
serving as the team's closer in the absence of the injured Keith
Foulke. Free agent addition Matt Mantei also is on the
disabled list, while Remlinger, Alan Embree, Blaine Neal and
John Halama all failed in relief stints.
After waiving Harville, the Astros recalled outfielder Luke
Scott from Class AAA Round Rock of the Pacific Coast League.
The 27-year-old hit .286 with 31 homers and 87 RBIs, leading the
league in home runs.
The starting left fielder for Houston on Opening Day, Scott hit
.154 (6-39) with one RBIs in 14 games before beng optioned to the
Express on May 3.