Zach Stewart pitches well in his first Pawtucket start

The key part acquired in the Kevin Youkilis trade was pitcher Zack Stewart, a once highly touted prospect who the Sox are hoping can return to that level.

If Wednesday night’s start in Rhode Island was any indication, the Sox could be seeing Stewart in Boston sooner rather than later.

Stewart pitched five and two thirds innings in a 5-1 victory, allowing one run on six hits while striking out four. Stewart only threw 82 pitches as the Red Sox staff hopes to convert him back from a middle reliever into a starting pitcher.

The Sox might need him at some point as he and Mark Prior (yes, that Mark Prior) are the only Pawtucket Red Sox with any real major league pitching experience and Mark Prior is quite possibly one of the biggest reclamation projects of all time. That would mean that the next injury to a Red Sox starter or if the team needs a spot start from anyone, Stewart could be getting the call.

Another couple starts like this, and maybe Stewart will end up being the fifth starter for the Boston Red Sox anyway.