Aug 29, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Joe Kelly (56) pitches in the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
Joe Kelly out pitched Mets ace Jacob deGrom for Kelly’s sixth August win as the Red Sox scratched out two runs in the sixth to support Kelly’s effort in a 3-1 win in New York. Kelly pitched into the eighth and the flammable Red Sox bullpen closed out the Mets for the win.
Kelly overcame a 30 pitch first inning and the Red Sox hitters strung together three hits in the sixth after a flurry of deGrom strikeouts to get the needed support for the dominant Kelly. Mookie Betts started the sixth inning rally with a single and opened the seventh with a home run to get Kelly some insurance as the Mets pitchers combined to fan 16 Boston hitters.
Hitters and pitchers both have slumps and hot streaks that just seem to mystically happen and Kelly was on one coming into the game. In his last four starts Kelly had tossed 24.2 innings while registering a 1.82 ERA. For deGrom it has been a season long hot streak as he sits in the upper echelon of the NL pitchers leader board in a variety of categories.