After Friday night’s 19-inning marathon, the Boston Red Sox desperately needed a strong, lengthy outing from starting pitcher Joe Kelly.
And Kelly delivered just that.
In his 2015 debut, the right-hander pitched seven stellar innings at the Bronx, holding the New York Yankees to one hit and one run while striking out eight and walking two. Kelly, who dealt with biceps soreness in spring training, originally was expected to last just five or six innings, but needed just 93 pitches before departing after seven in Boston’s eventual 8-4 win.
Kelly’s battery mate, catcher Ryan Hanigan, observed after the game that the hurler was able to …