Clay Buchholz and Michael Bowden combined for 20 strikeouts Saturday.

The two sandwich-round draft picks appear ready to take off.

If Boston's offense provided some support, Buchholz would have been the story Saturday (8 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 9K). He not only gave the gassed bullpren a breather, he showed how dominant he can be.

Bowden, likewise, demonstrated why the Red Sox are so high on him. He said he had his fastball command for the first time, and it showed (6 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 11 K).

Remember, Bowden is only 21. If he went to college, he would be junior.

Lots of moves and news:

Brandon Moss got the call to join Boston to replace Sean Casey (hip).

To replace Moss in Pawtucket, catcher/first baseman Sandy Madera was promoted from Portland. Madera, a personable guy with a .421 average, is in his ninth pro season. This is his first crack at Triple-A.

In Pawtucket, Craig Hansen returned from his one game in Fenway and resumed his dealing (2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K).

But when will Hansen get a chance again? Boston already has an extra reliever (The Red Sox replaced three injured players (Mike Lowell, Alexa Cora and Casey) with two players and a reliever (Jed Lowrie, Moss and Bryan Corey).

When Lowell comes back Tuesday, a pitcher will have to go (Timlin on the DL with back issues?). Lowrie is the only back-up middle infielder/third baseman, and Moss is the only back-up first baseman.

One more Pawtucket move: former major league reliever Dan Kolb, 33, was let go when Devern Hansack came off the DL. Kolb had thrown 12 1/3 innings (18 H, 4 BB).

In advanced Class A Lancaster, closer Josh Papelbon gave up a grand slam in the ninth, in a 7-5 loss ... touted first base prospect Lars Anderson is starting to hit (3-for-5 Saturday).

In Greenville, reliever Bryce Cox is rebounding from his shoulder problem and pitched 2 1/3 innings Saturday (0 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 1 K) ... First baseman/designated hitter Michael Jones continues to hit, going 2-for-4. He's hitting .405 in 20 games with 2 HR and 15 RBI.

I'll check in later from Hadlock.

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