Pitcher Daniel Bard, the Boston Red Sox first-round draft pick in 2006, is joining the Portland Sea Dogs, according to Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe.

Bard, with an 0.64 ERA in 28 innings pitched for low Class A Greenville, is bypassing advanced Class A Lancaster.

The speculation of a Bard move to Portland has been building in recent weeks because Bard had not gone to Lancaster, despite his domination in Greenville.

In his first year as a reliever, Bard had 43 strikeouts in those 28 innings, allowing only 12 hits, 2 runs and 4 walks. He pitched Firday night, striking out one in 1 inning.

Bard struggled as a starter in four games in Lancaster to begin the 2007 season, and maybe the Sox wanted to keep him out of the wind-blown California League.

Bard will re-join Sea Dogs pitching coach Mike cather. They worked together in the off-season in the winter league in Hawaii.

Bard fills a roster spot left by starter Matt Goodson, who went on the disabled list with right calf soreness.

Goodson was supposed to start Game 1 of today's day/night doubleheader in New Britain. With reliever Kyle Jackson scheduled to start Game 2, the Sea Dogs may need another pitching move today.

The biggest news in the Red Sox minor league system is bad news. First baseman Anthony Rizzo has been diagnosed with lymphona (officially "Limited Stage Classical Hodgkin's Lymphoma," according to the Red Sox press release.

Rizzo, who does not turn 19 until August, was a sixth-round draft pick last year. He was already in Greenville this season, and was hitting .373 through 21 games in April. He will return to Miami to receive treatment. The Red Sox said his chances for recovery are "excellent" and he could return to play in 6-8 months.

In Triple-A Pawtucket, former Portland reliever Hunter Jones made his first appearance and got a loss (1 IP, 3 H, 1 R) ... Charlie ZInk made the start, allowing 1 earned run in 5 1/3 innings.

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