Recently Promoted Reliever Steps Up For Red Sox In Huge Spot
Zack Kelly escaped a seventh-inning jam in Tuesday's win over the Brewers
Recently Promoted Reliever Steps Up For Red Sox In Huge Spot originally appeared on NESN . Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here . Holding leads has been a struggle for the Boston Red Sox in 2026.
During their first homestand of the season, the Red Sox have scored runs in 12 different innings. Eight times, their opponents have scored in the next half inning. Regardless of who's pitching, they haven't been able to find the shutdown inning.
On Tuesday, against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Red Sox scored three in the sixth inning to open the scoring. Garrett Crochet took the mound for the seventh with a high pitch count and loaded the bases before hitting David Hamilton to give the Brewers a run. He exited the game with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh inning.
With Justin Slaten unavailable, Red Sox manager Alex Cora gave the ball to Zack Kelly. He's been up and down between Triple-A Worcester and Boston over the past several seasons, but was ready to answer the call in a high-leverage spot on Tuesday. "[Being up and down] is nothing I'm not used to," Kelly said.