BOSTON -- Dan Otero's continued struggles prompted his demotion Friday, as the right-hander was optioned to Triple-Nashville to work through command issues.
Switch-pitcher Pat Venditte was promoted in his place for his big league debut.
"Dan is one of the hardest workers on this team," said pitching coach Curt Young. "He'll go down, work hard, get himself right and he'll be back. He knows what this game is about: Results and getting people out. He's one of the guys we counted on, and we'll count on him again."
Otero allowed four runs and got just one out in the ninth inning in Detroit on Thursday, upping his ERA to 6.