We’ve all heard it. During the whole “Boggs as a closer” fiasco a couple of weeks ago, there was talk of Joe Kelly. Joe Kelly was the “ferrari in the garage” or whatever. The last couple of times that I have witnessed Joe Kelly pitch in relief, he’s looked a little more like a Yugo than a Ferrari.
Tonight, Joe Kelly came in beginning the bottom of the 7th at Miller Park in Milwaukee. He was throwing pretty hard. First pitch, a 96 mph fastball that he blew by the guy. That’s how he started. Yep, STARTED. That first guy-Schafer, yeah, he hit a bullet to Carpenter at 2nd that he dove for, making a beautiful play that the umpire blew the call on. I saw the replay, he was out. Maybe by a quarter-step, but he was out. He was called safe. Second batter, Aoki, comes up, launches a ground rule double to left, that I’m pretty sure Holliday lost in the lights. Runners on 2nd and third, and Segura comes up and hits a sac fly to Beltran in right. Schafer scores. The score is now 6-2. Next, Braun comes up to bat. Ryan Braun, yeah, that Braun. He strikes out.
“Thank goodness,” she thinks, “Kelly’s finally got his stuff together.” Then Betancourt comes up, is standing in, Kelly gets into the count, and then ricochets one off of Yuniesky’s right wrist. Seriously? I mean, seriously? Did I mention it also bounced off Yadi? Bases are loaded now. And then comes Boggs. Third run for the Brewers is scored thanks to two walks by Boggs. I may have said this before, but seriously?
Boggs faces two batters, leaves the bases loaded, and Trevor Rosenthal may have saved the game with a strike out of Maldonado. In the 8th, there was a little hiccup, but nothing like the 7th, so I’m not even going to acknowledge it. Cards go into the 9th leading the game 6-4. Bottom of the 9th, Mujica comes in and faces 5 batters, striking out two. Cards win 6-5.
For the second time in a row, Westbrook gives an outstanding starting performance looking for his 100th career win. He is currently hugging Rosenthal. We won’t talk about his understandable and probable break up as friends with Boggs.
Happy 100th victory, Jake Westbrook!
Go Cards!
