Wed May 21 18:02:44 2008

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Colon to make Red Sox debut Wednesday

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Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Bartolo Colon is set to make his Boston Red Sox debut Wednesday against the Kansas City Royals.

The 10-year veteran, who was signed February 8 to a minor-league deal, made three starts for the team's Triple-A affiliate in Pawtucket, before he was called up to start the third contest in a four-game series.

Colon takes the mound two days after Jon Lester no-hit the Royals and one day after a 2-1 victory in which Rookie Justin Masterson gave up one earned run on three hits in 6.1 innings.

Masterson was called up from Double-A Portland to replace Clay Buchholz who was put on the 15-day disabled list May 14, with a broken fingernail. The rookie was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket early Wednesday to make room for the veteran right-hander.

Colon has not pitched in a major-league game since last September 29 when he struck out two batters and allowed no hits in one inning of relief for the Angels. He finished the 2007 season with a 6-8 record a 6.34 earned-run average. The 2005 American League Cy Young Award winner won his first five decisions before dropping eight of his last nine.

In his three starts for the PawSox, Colon was 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA, 11 strikeouts and six hits allowed in 14 innings. Colon's first start was on April 3, before a right oblique strain sidelined him until his two most recent starts on May 10 and May 15.