Boston ? Curtis Leskanic momentarily was taken aback by the swarm of media that descended upon him in the Red Sox dugout.

“This sure is a long way from Kansas City,” he quipped.

In distance, and in the standings, Boston and Kansas City are worlds apart. And Leskanic, a right-handed reliever, was signed Tuesday by the Red Sox to help keep it that way.

With the front end of the bullpen inexperienced and inconsistent most of the season, the Red Sox are turning to Leskanic, an 11-year veteran primarily in the National League who was released by Kansas City on June 16.

“When I got released, I had quite a few phone calls,” Leskanic said. “When Boston called, I couldn’t help but think, what a great place to play. I think I made the right decision coming here.”

Leskanic will be used as a sixth- and seventh-inning bridge to setup men Mike Timlin, Alan Embree and Scott Williamson and closer Keith Foulke.

“He’s going to add depth,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. “At points this season, we’ve been exposed.”

Leskanic, 36, was 0-3 with an 8.04 earned-run average this season, but in his last 10 appearances, beginning May 10, he allowed two runs and 11 hits in 81/3 innings. He was diagnosed with a tear in his right rotator cuff last season, but has elected to pitch with it.

“It flares up every now and then, but I take anti-inflammatories,” said Leskanic. “At the beginning of the season, it troubled me a lot. I got a cortisone shot, and the last month I’ve been throwing great.”