BOSTON -- May 12 was a dark day for Josh Winckowski, as he was optioned to Triple-Worcester to make room for Brayan Bello’s return from the injured list.

A key member of Boston’s bullpen last season, the righty was hoping his ability to perform in multiple roles would be enough of an asset in 2024 that he could remain on the big league roster the entire season. It took Winckowski six weeks to punch his ticket back to Boston, and he looks determined not to be sent down again.

After the Padres pounded the Red Sox by an aggregate 19-3 in the first two games of this weekend series at Fenway, Winckowski restored order in the Sunday afternoon finale, firing five scoreless innings on just 58 pitches (40 strikes) while lifting his team to a 4-1 victory.

While Winckowski only forced three swings and misses, he pitched effectively to contact and was in just one true jam.

It was Winckowski’s first start for the Red Sox since May 2, but his previous appearance after getting called back up earlier this week included a starter’s workload.

In that one, Winckowski came on in relief of a struggling Bello and fired six strong innings, allowing two runs while throwing 91 pitches (60 strikes).

That outing was enough for manager Alex Cora to start Winckowski on Sunday while giving Bello three extra days to gather himself prior to his upcoming outing on Wednesday in Miami.

Much of the talk coming into the game surrounded Padres righty Matt Waldron bringing his knuckleball to Fenway Park for the first time. For Waldron, who had an impactful Zoom call with the late Tim Wakefield in 2021, it was meaningful to pitch in Boston.

But the Red Sox took some of the fun out of it for him, thanks to a two-run homer by Rafael Devers in the first and a solo shot down the right-field line by Jarren Duran (off a knuckleball) in the fifth that staked Winckowski to an early lead.