NEW YORK — Right-hander Joe Kelly stuck around until the 10th inning, fell asleep somewhere around the 15th and did not know that the Boston Red Sox had won in the 19th until checking his phone.
Center fielder Brock Holt knew what was unfolding Friday night but wound up being the only Red Sox position player not to appear in the marathon win.
A day after Boston played the longest game in team history, Kelly and Holt helped ensure that there would not be another marathon outcome.
Kelly allowed a hit in seven dominant innings while Holt highlighted a 4-for-5 day with a three-run double in the top of the eighth inning and the Red Sox needed a little over three hours to get an 8-4 victory over the New York Yankees.
“Right when I woke up, pulled up the MLB app, saw that we won in 19 innings and said ‘Holy Crud,’” Kelly said. “Being the starter that day you want to try and pitch 100 pitches at the minimum. It’s something that starters take pride in trying to save the bullpen, especially after a game like that. It was in the back of my mind the whole time that I got to try and make quick outs and get those guys some rest.”
Kelly (1-0) initially was going make a rehab start but returned from a strained right biceps after a successful bullpen session Wednesday in Philadelphia. The results translated on the mound as the only hit he allowed was a leadoff single to first baseman Alex Rodriguez in the second inning.
“He was outstanding especially from the first inning on,” Boston manager John Farrell said. “He settled into a very good rhythm, (threw) a lot of strikes. He was efficient enabling to get him through seven innings.”
After nine pitchers combined for 296 pitches Friday in a 19-inning victory that took six hours, 49 minutes and ended at 2:13 a.m. ET, Kelly had a career-high eight strikeouts, issued two walks and threw 58 of 93 pitches for strikes while retiring the final 17 hitters.
“That was awesome, power is the word of the day,” Boston catcher Ryan Hannigan said.
“He really gave us a shot in the arm by going seven innings on the day after last night,” Farrell said.
Alexi Ogando gave up a three-run home run to center fielder Chris Young with two outs in the eighth, but Anthony Varvaro and Robbie Ross finished off the win, getting the last out 14 hours and eight minutes after the marathon win.
Holt knew he was playing center field Saturday long before Friday’s game went well after midnight. After waiting 19 innings and thinking he might pinch run for designated David Ortiz at various points, Holt was more than ready when the first pitch was thrown nearly 11 hours later.
“I was able to sleep on it and kind of get ready,” Holt said. “I was fortunate to have a good day but my mindset is to come to the field and be ready to go.”
Before Holt’s double, the Red Sox loaded the bases without getting the ball out of the infield. That included left fielder Daniel Nava reaching base for the fourth time, on a throwing error by third baseman Chase Headley.
Nava was originally called out, but Boston challenged the ruling by first base umpire Mike Winters and the call was overturned when video replay showed that the throw took Rodriguez’s foot off the bag.
Before the Red Sox broke it open in the eighth against Matt Tracy in his major league debut, Nava drove in the first two runs with a double in the second and a single in the fourth. Second baseman Dustin Pedroia added a two-run double in the seventh after Bogaerts stole second, took third on a throwing error and scored on a fielder’s choice by catcher Ryan Hanigan.
The Yankees rested four regulars (Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann, Mark Teixeira and Stephen Drew) and used Rodriguez at first base for the first time in his career. Rodriguez committed an error in the second inning, the first of three Yankee errors that led to five runs.
“Just a ball that should be caught, 10 times out of 10,” Rodriguez said.
Adam Warren (0-1) made his fourth career start and allowed two runs (one earned) and five hits in 5 1/3 innings while throwing a career-high 98 pitches. Warren got second baseman Pedroia to hit into double plays in the third and fifth innings.
NOTES: Needing another relief pitcher after Friday, the Yankees purchased the contract of LHP Matt Tracy from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and optioned LHP Chasen Shreve there after he threw 54 pitches in 3 1/3 innings on Friday. … To get Red Sox RHP Joe Kelly on the roster, RHP Steven Wright was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket after throwing 78 pitches and earning the win Friday. … According to the Red Sox, SS Xander Bogaerts was the first player in team history to get at least four hits in extra innings since 1947. … Asked about a meeting with RHP Masahiro Tanaka, New York manager Joe Girardi said, “Meetings that I have with my players are meetings for us. They’re not for the media. You may not agree with it, but that’s how I handle it. Things that happen in the clubhouse are supposed to stay in the clubhouse.”