He appeared in his first game with Portland on Sunday night. He pitched one inning, striking out all three batters he faced.

A three-year starter at the University of North Carolina, Bard was a first-round pick of the Boston Red Sox in the 2006 draft.

Bard's roster spot in Greenville has been filled by right-handed reliever Ryne Miller (6-4, 230), who joins the team from the Gulf Coast League Red Sox, for whom he went 0-1 with a 1.88 earned run average with five saves in 10 appearances.