HOUSTON — Pat Light was in his apartment watching television with Pawtucket teammate Brian Johnson on Saturday night when his phone rang. He didn’t recognize the number and was surprised when it proved to be PawSox manager Kevin Boles.
Boles would have preferred to deliver the news in person but time was of the essence. Light was going to the major leagues for the first time and needed to be in Houston on Sunday night.
“That’s an awesome call,’’ Light said. “I didn’t think this was coming at all.’’
The 25-year-old Light immediately called his parents, Carol and Doug. He was more surprised than they were.
“Somehow they knew,’’ Light said. “She was like, ‘We know what’s going on, Pat. Tell us.’ . . . It was exciting.’’
His parents immediately booked a flight and traveled to Houston for the game.
Light was a supplemental first-round pick in 2012, No. 37 overall, out of Monmouth University. The New Jersey native spent four seasons as a starter with uninspiring results. He was 9-12 with a 4.89 ERA in 49 starts from 2012-14.
The Sox shifted the righthander to the bullpen in 2015 and his career took off. He struck out 67 in 62? innings and held opponents to a .211 batting average. He spent the final three months of the season with Pawtucket.
“To get here this quick is awesome,’’ Light said.
Light’s fastball sits at 94-95 miles per hour, but command has long been an issue. The Red Sox added the righthander to the 40-man roster in November and he pitched in four major league games in spring training before being optioned. At Pawtucket, Light appeared in five games giving up three runs on three hits in 6? innings. He struck out 10 and walked three.
“My first outing was a little shaky. I didn’t really have it that day,’’ Light said. “But I was able to make some adjustments [within the game], which I wasn’t able to do last year. That was actually a really good outing for me because from then on it’s been pretty good for me.’’
Said Red Sox manager John Farrell: “He’s been able to use his [split-finger fastball] to get back in some counts when he’s fallen behind. The power to the fastball has been there.’’
The Sox also recalled lefthander Henry Owens, who started Sunday night’s game against Houston.
Lefthander Roenis Elias and righthander Noe Ramirez were optioned back to Triple A after Saturday’s game. It was the fourth time in six days the Sox made roster moves involving their pitching staff.
Elias made his debut with the Red Sox on Saturday and allowed three runs on four hits — all doubles — in 1? innings. Ramirez has appeared in four of the last seven games and nine overall this season. He has a 5.79 ERA.
The Red Sox are carrying eight relievers because of how taxed their bullpen has been since the season started. Farrell said the goal is to get back to a full bench but that may not come until later in the week.
The Sox have already had 17 pitchers on the roster through the first 18 games of the season.
Getting stronger
Christian Vazquez has caught six of the 10 games the Red Sox have played since he was activated off the disabled list April 15. A little more than a year since having Tommy John surgery, his right elbow is not a problem.
“I don’t even think about it during games,’’ Vazquez said. “It feels strong. I know I can make all the throws I need to.’’
The Sox have controlled Vazquez’s playing time by having Ryan Hanigan catch regularly.
Hanigan has caught Steven Wright’s last two starts and on Sunday caught Owens.
“It’s not every day and there are some combinations in our rotation we want to preserve between a catcher and pitcher. That’s going to build in some natural breaks in a five-day rotation,’’ Farrell said.
Still, Farrell said he would not hesitate using Vazquez four days in a row.
“I’ll catch as much as they want me to catch,’’ Vazquez said. “They have treated me great the whole time. Everything worked out for the best.’’
Late night
With ESPN picking up Sunday’s game, the Red Sox weren’t scheduled to arrive at their hotel in Atlanta until approximately 4 a.m. Rick Porcello, the starting pitcher Monday, went ahead to get a full night of rest. The travel also will affect Monday’s lineup. Farrell expects to start Hanley Ramirez at first base and have David Ortiz come off the bench . . . Double A Portland does not have a game Thursday, so Eduardo Rodriguez will start his minor league rehabilitation assignment with Single A Salem that day and pitch at Frederick, Md. Tentative plans from there are for Rodriguez to pitch for Pawtucket on May 3 at Lehigh Valley.
Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com.
