Joe Kelly Loses No-Hitter In 7th, Red Sox Cruise Past Indians
BOSTON -- Joe Kelly came off the disabled list with a bang on Saturday.
The right-hander, out just over a month with right shoulder impingement, threw 6 2/3 hitless innings and Mookie Betts hit two homers, one a grand slam, and drove in five runs as the Boston Red Sox ended the Cleveland Indians' five-game winning streak with a 9-1 win.
One pitch after center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. -- who had just extended his hitting streak to 26 games -- made a nifty catch of a Marlon Byrd line drive in the seventh, Juan Uribe ripped a double to right-center.
The Fenway Park crowd immediately started rising to its collective feet as manager John Farrell emerged from the dugout to remove Kelly (2-0).
Junichi Tazawa came on to end the mild threat and Tazawa worked through the eighth before Heath Hembree gave up a solo homer to Carlos Santana with two out in the ninth -- Kelly improving to 10-0 with a 3.53 ERA over his last 13 starts dating back to last season.
Jon Lester threw the Red Sox's last no-hitter, on May 19, 2008. But Kelly, throwing 104 pitches while walking three (all in the fifth inning) and striking out seven, wasn't going to finish, anyway.
Hanley Ramirez's two-run single highlighted a three-run third inning and Betts added a solo home run off starter and loser Trevor Bauer (3-2), who fell to 1-9 with a 7.69 ERA lifetime against the American League East.
Former New York Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain entered to loud boos with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh. He walked home a run with two out before Betts, who also had a double, hit his second career slam.
Bradley walked three times, twice intentionally to loud boos, but beat out an infield hit his third time up that was backhanded by second baseman Jason Kipnis. The throw pulled Santana slightly off the bag and the call held up under review.
Red Sox catcher Ryan Hanigan, hit on the left hand by a Bauer pitch in the sixth inning, caught the seventh but then left with a contusion.
Xander Bogaerts, David Ortiz, Travis Shaw and Ramirez all had two hits for the Red Sox, who have won 10 of their last 12 home games.
The first Betts homer gave Boston a home run in 21 straight games, extending its club record. Both homers landed in the first row of the Green Monster seats in left field. Betts has nine home runs and 33 RBIs for the season.
Bauer pitched around a leadoff double by Ortiz in the second inning before five straight hits followed the first out in the third. Bogaerts, extending his career-best hitting streak to 15 games, singled home Betts, who had doubled and, after another Ortiz hit, a single, loaded the bases, Ramirez dumped a two-run single into short right.
Kelly, who maxed out at 92 pitches in the third of his three rehab starts -- 10 strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings -- retired the first 13 before walking two. He struck out Uribe and, after throwing away a pickoff to second base, walked Lonnie Chisenhall to load the bases.
Chris Gimenez then hit a slow grounder to Kelly's right. The pitcher stabbed it and decided to throw home. His throw pulled Hanigan off the plate, but Hanigan got his foot down before Santana touched the plate, ending the threat.
NOTES: RHP Joe Kelly was activated from the disabled list to make the start for Boston, with RHP Noe Ramirez sent back to Triple-A Pawtucket. ... Red Sox manager John Farrell says he is all for the proposed plan to make intentional walks automatic, while counterpart and close friend Terry Francona said he is against it. ... Francona announced RHP Cody Anderson will be summoned as the 26th man, pitch the second game of Monday's double-header against the White Sox in Chicago and then go right back to Triple-A Columbus. ... Boston LF Brock Holt, placed on the concussion disabled list Friday but injured May 10, will see a concussion specialist Tuesday in Pittsburgh. "I'm feeling pretty good," he said. "Just frustrated. It's a frustrating thing to happen, especially when we were playing so well as a team. So just got to get right, and that's the main thing." ... Red Sox LHP Brian Johnson has been granted leave from Triple-A Pawtucket to deal with anxiety issues.
