Red Sox Recap: Kelly, Betts spark Red Sox to 3-1 win
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.
Aug 29, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (48) pitches in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
The heat is on in Flushing
deGrom and Kelly were both touching into the high 90s in the first and for Kelly it was a very good thing.
Curtis Granderson tagged a double to right to lead off the Mets part of the first and after a sac fly Curtis was waiting at third to venture home. Not so. Kelly fanned Daniel Murphy and Kelly Johnson – sandwiched around a walk – to escape with a 30 pitch start. Yes, the heat was needed.
Meanwhile deGrom finished off Boston with a top of the second 1-2-3 – all via the whiff. Yes, the heat was on full display.
The last of the second saw the Mets waste another scoring opportunity stranding Juan Uribe at third. Kelly cut his pitch total to 15 for the inning but the Mets were not done wasting away as Granderson led off the third with a hit – third straight inning the Mets did it – and a quick DP took care of any potential rally. Kelly was settling down.
Red Sox get a base runner!
Hit? Nope. Walk? nope. Error? Yes! Betts reached first in the fourth via a throwing error by shortstop Wilmer Flores. That is where Betts wilted as the next three Red Sox went down – two by strikeouts.
The fifth saw the Red Sox finally get a hit on a Brock Holt single up the middle. This was the beginning of one of the most exciting moments in baseball as after a Alejandro De Aza walk up came the pitcher to hit with two outs. Kelly had the good sense not to embarrass himself and flay away at heat and dropped down a decent, but uneventful bunt for an out. The game remained 0-0 and Kelly had a nice pitching rhythm.
Red Sox break serve
Aug 26, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Mookie Betts (50), right fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (25), and right fielder Rusney Castillo (38) celebrate after defeating the Chicago White Sox 2-0 at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports
The third time through proved a charm for a group of previously frustrated Boston hitters. Betts led off with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Pablo Sandoval, who looked awful striking out his first two at bats, caught a deGrom fastball and raked it to right-center for a run scoring double. Xander Bogaerts hit a shot to center and Panda moved to third on the out. Travis Shaw, who had looked equally as awful, drew a walk. Up stepped Holt and a grounder to first got the run in and a force at second. After a Blake Swihart – also two K’s – single, Jackie Bradley joined the K parade and inning over, but Boston up 2-0.
Hansel Robles replaced deGrom (6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 10 K) in the seventh as the Red Sox added another ace to their trophy case. Amazing the number of quality pitchers – Ace status, really – whom the Red Sox have either pounded into submission or edged out for wins. Add the very impressive deGrom to the list. Robles was given a nice welcome by Betts who launched a line drive home run (12) to left field.
Mets make noise
Johnson started the mini uprising with a single and came around on a Uribe double. Kelly settled down and retired the next two for a Red Sox 3-1 lead.
Kelly was finished after 7.1 innings and any Red Sox fan knows what that means – a shaky bullpen. This time it was not endless walks and a blown lead, but a creditable finish by Tommy Layne and a save for Jean Machi.
The Sunday conclusion of the series will have Mets right-hander Noah Syndergaard (8-6, 3.19) against left-hander Wade Miley (10-10, 4.51).
Aug 18, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Jean Machi (64) pitches during the ninth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Game notes, miscellaneous, report card
* The Mets real name is New York Metropolitans – a 19th century team from New York.
* The Red Sox are 8-2 in interleague play in games David Ortiz has started at first.
* The Mets uniforms incorporate the colors of the Brooklyn Dodgers (Blue) and New York Giants (Orange).
* Bogaerts hit streak was stopped at nine games.
* A Shaw double broke a 1-17 slump.
* Hal Wagner was the last Red Sox catcher to hit an inside the park home run (7/7/46).
* Rickey Henderson and Pedro Martinez are the only HOF players to play for the Red Sox and Mets.
* Since 2003 the Red Sox own the best Interleague record (149-87).
* Bob Murphy, former Mets broadcaster, is in the HOF. His first MLB job was with the Red Sox.
* The Mets staff has the second lowest BB/9 (2.41) in the NL.
* Les Rohr (2-3, 3.70) was the first draft pick in Mets history. Rohr is also the only player in Mets history born in England.
* Darryl Strawberry (252) is the Mets all-time home run leader.
* The Mets staff has the highest NL batting average for pitchers (.169).
* Citi Field has all green seats. Same as the Mets original home – The Polo Grounds.
* The last Mets-Red Sox trade was Kelly Shoppach for Pedro Beato (2012).
* Since 2003 Boston is 47-22 when Ortiz starts at 1B in an NL park. Boston is 21-28 when he sits.
Joe Kelly. STARTING PITCHING . A-. . Game Ball
HP ump John Tumpane put the squeeze on Kelly in the first that contributed to 30 pitches needed. The rest of the way Kelly was outstanding mixing in his change and curve with his high 90s fastball. The line is 7.1 IP, 5 H, R, 2 BB, 2 K and 102 pitches. For Kelly his record is now 8-6 with six wins in August. If you follow James’ game scores it was 64 – same as deGrom. Kelly’s effort finally got his ERA under 5.00 (4.94).
A. . Game Ball. Jean Machi. RELIEF PITCHING
Layne went 0.2 with a walk and a strikeout. Machi pitched a clean ninth. This certainly was needed as the fear of a great Kelly performance being wasted by a bullpen blowup never happened.
C-. . Game Ball. Mookie Betts. OFFENSE
The Red Sox could not avoid the K’s out of the Mets rotation and bullpen. The final tally was 16 as Boston hitters appeared over matched in most situations. Betts had a pair of hits including a rally starting single and a solo home run. Panda had a key double to drive in the first run, but Boston was 1-11 RISP.
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