Alex Bregman received most of the attention after the Red Sox’s win Tuesday night. That’s what happens when you go 5-for-5 with a double, a pair of home runs and four RBIs.
However, the two-time World Series champion hardly was the only driving force for Boston in its 7-4 triumph in Tampa Bay.
Zack Kelly was instrumental in the Red Sox returning to the win column at George M. Steinbrenner Field. After starter Walker Buehler went five innings and Justin Wilson handled the sixth, Kelly tossed 2 2/3 frames and set the stage for Aroldis Chapman to record the game’s final out. It was an uncharacteristically long run on the mound for Kelly, whose 49 appearances last season only featured three outings of more than two innings.
It wasn’t a flawless performance from the 30-year-old by any stretch. He allowed two earned runs on three hits before passing the baton to Boston’s closer. But taking on an extra workload on a night when the Red Sox really needed it didn’t go underappreciated in the clubhouse.
“Zack Kelly was outstanding. He was great,” Cora told reporters, per The Boston Globe. “We needed him to go as far as possible.”
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After throwing 43 pitches — his most since late August of last year — Kelly figures to join Bregman for an off day Wednesday when the Red Sox and the Rays wrap up their three-game set. Cora will look for other members of the pitching staff — including starter Sean Newcomb — to step up with a series win on the line.
NESN’s full coverage of the finale begins at 6 p.m. ET.
Featured image via Patrick Gorski/Imagn Images
