Kelly Fans 10 But Tides Rally for Win in Eighth
May 16, 2016 - International League (IL1)
Pawtucket Red Sox News Release
Pawtucket Red Sox Pitcher Joe Kelly
(Pawtucket Red Sox)
(Pawtucket, RI) - Joe Kelly continued his rehabilitation assignment and recorded 10 strikeouts in a dominant effort for the Pawtucket Red Sox, but the Norfolk Tides turned the tide with two big eighth-inning hits, claiming a 3-1 victory on Monday evening at McCoy Stadium.
Kelly scattered five hits over 6.1 scoreless innings, tossing 92 pitches in the third double-digit strikeout game of his professional career. The 10 strikeouts also tied his highest total in a game at Double-A or higher.
"He had command of the zone and was explosive tonight," said manager Kevin Boles. "He attacked the hitters and it was a good step forward."
Trailing 3-0 entering the eighth inning, Norfolk (14-25) mounted a quick rally against Anthony Varvaro (1-1), who had recorded the final two outs in relief of Kelly in the eighth inning.
Xavier Avery led off the frame with a ground ball past the first-base side of the mound that Deven Marrero was unable to barehand.
Two batters after the infield single, Mike Yastrzemski, grandson of Carl, stepped to the plate for the fourth at-bat of his Triple-A debut. Yastrzemski hammered a 2-2 pitch off the wall in right center field, scoring Avery with the tying run.
Yastrzemski went 2-for-4 with two strikeouts.
Two batters later, Dariel Alvarez lofted a ball to right field that kept carrying and snuck over the fence by the foul pole. The wind-aided home run, Alvarez's first of the season, gave the Tides a 3-1 lead that they would hold for good.
Norfolk did not scratch the scoreboard or record an extra-base hit outside of the eighth inning. Wesley Wright tossed a scoreless ninth inning and Kelly's effort improved his ERA to 1.26 in his three rehab starts for Pawtucket (18-20).
The largest threat the Tides mounted against Kelly came when they loaded the bases with three singles in the fourth inning. But he fanned Corban Joseph to keep the shutout in tact.
Kelly retired the final six batters he faced, including a sequence of three straight strikeouts during that stretch.
Norfolk starter Odrisamer Despaigne allowed one run on three hits in six innings.
The PawSox claimed their only run in the second inning. Blake Swihart walked, advanced to third base on Bryce Brentz's single into right center field and scored on Deven Marrero's ground ball to shortstop.
Relievers Richard Rodriguez (3-1), Pedro Beato and Oliver Drake combined to retire nine of the 10 batters they faced over the final three innings. The four Tides pitchers held Pawtucket to a total of four hits in the contest.
The PawSox play game two of their three-game set with the Tides tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. Pawtucket righthander William Cuevas (4-1, 3.13) is scheduled take the mound against Norfolk righty Joe Gunkel (0-2, 6.46). Radio coverage begins on WHJJ (920 AM) and throughout the PawSox radio network at 6:35 p.m.
Good seats for the remainder of the series are still available at the McCoy Stadium box office, by calling (401) 724-7300 or by visiting pawsox.com.
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 Pawtucket Red Sox Pitcher Joe Kelly |
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