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.