HOUSTON -- Twenty four hours after he was preparing for his first Major League start, lefty Brian Johnson was packing his bags for a return trip to the Minor Leagues.
The Red Sox needed a roster spot so Joe Kelly could make his return from Triple-A on Wednesday, and the recent lack of innings from the rotation meant that Johnson was the pitcher who had to go.
If the bullpen had been more rested, perhaps Johnson could have stayed for another turn in the rotation and reliever Noe Ramirez would have been the one sent down.