Red Sox roster moves: Veteran reliever goes to IL, new lefty called up for first MLB stint

Gamboa is a 29-year-old former Dodgers prospect who has never pitched in the majors. He reached Triple-A in three consecutive seasons before signing in Korea last year and recording a 3.58 ERA with 117 strikeouts in 108 innings for Lotte. In December, the Red Sox signed him to a minor league contract with a spring training invite.

Gamboa was hurt for most of spring training and had the start to his regular season delayed. In three starts for the WooSox, he has allowed nine earned runs in 13 innings (6.23 ERA) while posting a 15-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His last outing was Thursday when he struck out six batters and allowed two runs in 5 ⅔ innings for the WooSox in Rochester.

“Good arm,” said interim manager Chad Tracy, who had Gamboa in Worcester before taking Alex Cora’s place. “You’ll see a rock-back, way-over-the-top delivery, 93-95 (mph), mid-nineties, good lively fastball. And a breaking ball and changeup. He’s got good stuff. The outings he had with us, he was in and around the zone a good bit. I know his last one in Rochester was pretty good.”

With Boston’s bullpen taxed after starters Connelly Early (Saturday) and Ranger Suárez (Sunday) each went four innings over the weekend against Houston, the Red Sox believe Gamboa can give them length in the coming days. His stay with the big league club could be short with Sonny Gray potentially being activated to pitch Wednesday against the Tigers.

“We have to see what happens with Ranger,” Tracy said. “Obviously, when Sonny comes back, we still have to make a move. We’ll take the next couple days to assess and see where he’s at.”

Veteran Tommy Kahnle, who owns a 2.89 ERA in eight appearances for Worcester so far, had a similar contractual clause as Gamboa but is expected to remain with the WooSox after not receiving interest elsewhere, according to sources. Sandoval is shut down from throwing after experiencing biceps tightness in his second rehab outing with the WooSox on April 14. He wasn’t going to be ready to pitch this month — and now can’t as a member of the 60-day IL.

More Red Sox coverage

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• Red Sox promote hard-throwing pitching prospect (34 Ks in 20.1 innings) to Double-A

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