Joe Kelly will be sad to see September.
After a nearly yearlong struggle that culminated in him being sent to the minors in late June, the Boston Red Sox right-hander took the month of August by storm.
Saturday’s 3-1 defeat of the New York Mets was Kelly’s sixth victory in as many starts this month, making him the first Red Sox pitcher since Pedro Martinez in 1999 to record six wins in one month and the first since Roger Clemens in 1990 to do so in August, according to Red Sox PR.
In the process, Kelly has shrunk his ERA from 6.11 on Aug. 1 to 4.94. Acting Red Sox manager Torey Lovullo believes this resurgence stems from Kelly — a former college closer who boasts a high-90s fastball — finally embracing his secondary stuff.
“Early in the year, maybe he was just a thrower — trying to throw fastballs by guys,” Lovullo told reporters after Saturday’s game, as aired on “Red Sox Extra Innings LIVE.” “But we know that that’s not going to happen at this level. He started to pitch. He threw four straight changeups (Saturday), and if you told me he was going to be able to do that earlier in the year, I’d have said it would have been a challenge.
“He’s come a long way. He’s developing some pitches. The confidence is there. And he’s got three, sometimes four, active pitches to left- or right-handed batters at any time, and that’s very lethal.”
Before Saturday, Kelly’s previous four wins — four of his better starts this season — had come with Ryan Hanigan behind the plate. Hanigan initially was penciled in to start against the Mets, as well, but calf tightness forced him out of the lineup.
Instead, Blake Swihart handled the catching duties, and at first, Kelly struggled. He did not allow a run in the first inning but needed 30 pitches to get through it — a far loftier total that any starting pitcher would prefer.
Kelly quickly put to rest any concerns, however, facing just one batter above the minimum from the second through the sixth inning.
“It’s nice to see,” Lovullo told reporters. “Hanny gets banged up, and Blake steps right in there. They drew up a good game plan; Hanny was very involved in that game-planning. And it’s a credit to our catchers, who can get on the same page for our guys.”
In all, Kelly tossed 7 1/3 innings — tying his career high for the second straight game. He allowed a run on five hits, walking two and striking out two, and became the first pitcher in the majors this season to win six consecutive starts.
“He has electric stuff,” center fielder Mookie Betts, who homered and scored twice in the win, told NESN sideline reporter Guerin Austin after the game. “And for me to see this, it’s kind of like what I’m expecting.”
Thumbnail photo via Andy Marlin/USA TODAY Sports Images
