Red Sox pitcher Joe Kelly allowed two runs on seven hits in seven innings of work in Boston's 2-1 loss to the Rangers on Wednesday.
"I made some pitches when I had to and had command of my heater," Kelly said after the game, per the Boston Herald. "We played some good defense tonight, but it’s baseball and we lost, 2-1. That guy over there pitched a good game and sometimes you just have to tip your hat."
Kelly allowed two consecutive singles in the second, putting runners on first and third. Elvis Andrus produced a sacrifice fly to score the first run. Then in the third, Robinson Chirinos blasted a solo home run to center field.
"Fastball command pretty much nails it down," Kelly said of the key to his success. "Getting ahead of hitters and locating the pitch where I want to locate it. I didn’t really have any off-speed tonight. I went out there with just one pitch and I tried to locate it as best I can to get out of it."
Kelly, who also struck out seven and walked just one, moved his ERA to 5.13 in 47 1/3 innings of work. Kelly, now 1-3, will look to get back on track Monday against the Twins.