Red Sox Quickly Send Joe Kelly To Pawtucket After Second Straight Rough Outing
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Boston Red Sox optioned pitcher Joe Kelly to Triple-A Pawtucket after Wednesday night's 13-9 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. Kelly allowed seven runs on seven hits and two walks while recording one strikeout in just 2.1 innings.
"Obviously, I didn't see it coming," Kelly told reporters about his sudden demotion after the game. "It's a move that they decided to make and I'm just going to go down there and just continue to get better with commanding the baseball and work on all my stuff and try to get back as soon as I can."
Kelly was coming off a shaky outing against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 27, allowing five runs in 4.2 innings and taking the loss. Manager John Farrell cited the aforementioned fastball command as one of the main reasons he believes Kelly needs more time in Triple-A to figure things out.
"That's an area that has been kind of the nemesis of Joe," Farrell said. "Blessed with a golden arm and tremendous stuff, but the execution of it has not been as consistent in those games like he's shown previously."
The Red Sox recalled righty Noe Ramirez for bullpen help to replace Kelly, who has an 8.46 ERA and 2.24 WHIP in six starts this season. The team will likely roll with a four-man rotation with three days off over the next 12 days.
