Clay Buchholz made a nice rehab appearance Sunday in Pawtucket, throwing 4 1/3 innings (3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 3 K).

Buchholz said he would make one mre rehab start Friday for Pawtucket and then he will wait to hear from the Red Sox.

“It’s up to them from there," Buchholz told Paul Kenyon of the Providence Journal. "They said I was coming down for two outings. That’s what I’m looking at right now. If I’ve got to stay a little bit longer, so be it. I’ll be ready to go whenever they give me the call.”

Buchholz will only get a call if Bartolo Colon breaks down, or another Red Sox starter is injured. Colon starts for Boston tonight in Seattle.

Buchholz is where the Red Sox planned to put him at the start of the season - in the minors, working on his command. Buchholz can show lights-out stuff, but can also struggle, which is why he has the highest ERA (5.53) among the Sox starters.

Buchholz will likely help Boston at the end of the season (manager Terry Francona all but ruled out a bullpen role). Colon is injury-prone, as is Tim Wakefield these days. And who knows if Curt Schilling can come back.

If Buchholz gets his command, you have to figure Boston will use him.

As for the Red Sox, they are glad to get out of Oakland, home of the best ERA in the American League (3.27), and head to Seattle, home to the worst pitchers in the AL (4.96).

In Pawtucket Sunday, Buchholz was not the only pitcher of note. Two recent promoted relievers from Portland pitched shutout ball - Hunter Jones (2 IP, 3 K), and Miguel Asencio (3 IP, 1 H) ... Chris Carter, Dusty Brown and Brandon Moss all homered ... infielder Jed Lowrie missed his 10th day with a sore hand.

In Portland, Kris Johnson pitched okay (5 1/3, 6 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 3 K), but the relief was bad, as was the offense in a 6-3 loss.

In Lancaster, third-baseman Jorge Jimenez (2-for-5; .349) and outfielder Josh Reddick (3-for-5, HR; .326, 6 homers) continue to hit.

Outfielder Jered Stanley is enjoying Greenville so far. After five games as a fill-in with Portland (.143), Stanely is 5-fo-8 (.625) in two games with Greenville, with three home runs.

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