So Justin Masterson is finally going to the pen ... Clay Buchholz hopefully has regained some command ... and Jon Lester is making the Sox brass look good.

The news that Justin Masterson was going back to Pawtucket to get acclimated to becoming a reliever came as no surprise. The Sox were not going to keep Buchholz in Triple-A the rest of the season, and Masterson is the most suited for the bullpen job.

Masterson has a rubber arm (actually, Masterson has a rubber body. Maybe it's the Yoga he does, but the Sea Dogs trainers said he was the most flexible of any of the players) and can bounce back quickly after an appearance. Masterson has performed the role before in college and the Cape Cod League, and Masterson is especially good againt right-handers.

Left-handed hitters batted .236 against Masterson, but with 21 walks and six home runs ... Right-handers batted .170 (7 walks, 2 home runs).

Here's a question: When Masterson returns to Boston, which reliever goes?

Buchholz compiled a 2-3 record this season for Boston, with a 5.53 ERA. He had 43 strikeouts/20 walks in 42 1/3 inning ... Back in Pawtucket, Buchholz went 4-2, 2.47, with 43 strikeouts/17 walks in 43 2/3 innings ... the numbers look the same, but from all the reports, Buchholz showed more command, being aggressive with his fastball, instead of nibbling with his off-speed stuff ... Buchholz will go Friday against Baltimore. Hmm, if I remember right, Buchholz has a good history at Fenway against the Orioles.

Lester goes tonight for the Sox, in his first start since his complete game shutout at Yankee Stadium. Sea Dogs general manager Charlie Eshbach asked why we don't start running comparison with Lester and the pitcher the Red Sox considered trading him for, Johan Santana.

Sounds good:
Lester is 7-3, 3.21 ERA with 76 strikeouts.
Santana is 7-7, 2.96 with 109 strikeouts.

And, one more thing: Santana makes $19-million, Lester $420,000.

In Portland tonight, Adam Mills makes his Hadlock Field debut. Mills, an 8th-round draft pick last year out of UNC-Charlotte, was recently promoted from Class A Lancaster.

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats return to Hadlock with their new third baseman - former Sea Dogs Andrew Pinckney, who was released by the Red Sox on June 27. Pinckney is hitting .174 for the Fisher Cats, but in only 8 games.

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