Yankees rally against rookie Kevin Kelly to beat Rays
ST. PETERSBURG — At this time last season, Kevin Kelly was a RubberDuck, pitching for Cleveland’s Double-A Akron team, facing the likes of the Flying Squirrels, SeaWolves, Rumble Ponies and Fisher Cats, before a June promotion to Triple A.
Life happens fast, and for Kelly, a 25-year-old reliever, the past few months have been a blur.
He was chosen by the Rays in the December Rule 5 draft, showed well enough in spring training to earn a roster spot and the chance to pitch in the big leagues, and lately, given some injuries to and inconsistent performances by others, has been thrust into higher-leverage roles.
All of which led to him being on the mound in the eighth inning Saturday, as the Rays — their MLB-leading offense uncharacteristically unable to score after the first inning — let a two-run lead slip away and lost 3-2 to the Yankees.
Kelly took over after Jalen Beeks got one out and allowed one on, and gave up allowed hits — none especially hard — to three of the next four batters.
Gleyber Torres hit a soft single, DJ LeMahieu bounced back from an 0-2 count to slice a double down the rightfield line that scored one and, an out later, Harrison Bader blooped a ball (64.2 mph off the bat) into shallow right to score two and put the Yankees ahead.
“I thought they did a good job with the pitches,” Kelly said. “I felt like I was mainly in the zone and they did a good job capitalizing on that. At least one of them, or two, was a bloop, but those are going to happen.”
Added catcher Christian Bethancourt: “They were definitely just trying to put the ball in play and hoping for something to happen and they got something going in that inning. I don’t recall having a hard hit ball in that inning, so that’s what makes me feel a little bad about it. But they did what they were supposed to do.”
Kelly certainly wasn’t solely to blame, as the Rays managed just one hit with runners in scoring position all day — the two-run, two-out double by Manuel Margot in the first that scored Yandy Diaz and Wander Franco, who led off with back-to-back singles off Domingo German — and finished 1-for-12, leaving seven on.
“It’s not typical for us,” outfielder/first baseman Luke Raley said. “So when it happens, it’s baseball.”
In a season that has been remarkable overall to this point — Saturday’s loss was just the Rays’ seventh in 34 games, and third in 21 under the tilted roof of Tropicana Field — the bullpen appears to be an area of at least some concern.
The four-run ninth-inning lead that got away last Sunday in Chicago seemed an aberration at the time, and the bounce back seemed good during the week.
The depth seems a bit in question, even more so with closer Pete Fairbanks currently sidelined. And on a day like Saturday, with Jason Adam unavailable after pitching three of the previous four games, the shift in responsibilities leads to situations such as Kelly pitching in major moments.
Kelly, who has looked fearless on the mound while still seeming quiet and somewhat nervous around the clubhouse, said he feels he has handled the adjustments to the big time well.
“I think it’s been fine,” he said. “I mean, it’s the same game. You want to go out there and get outs every time you’re out there. The situation doesn’t really change that.”
Manager Kevin Cash said there is no question Kelly (3-1, 4.26) has done well, did so again on Saturday and will continue to do so.
“I wouldn’t even call that growing pains,” Cash said. “I think if we go back and look, he’s going to find out that he executed pitches. Sometimes the hitter is going to get you. I’m really impressed with what he’s done this first month of the season. He should be proud of himself.”
Bethancourt said people need to understand the transition Kelly has had to make.
“He’s been amazing,” Bethancourt said. “I’m sure his ERA doesn’t show how good he has been for us. Having him not being in the major leagues before, and being on a pitching staff like the one we have, and he’s been out there with all the guys. He’s a great person. I like him a lot. And he’s been better than what these numbers are showing.”
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