Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora tossed a lifeline to pitchers Joe Kelly and Tyler Thornburg on Sunday in Detroit. Both are key ingredients to a stable bullpen and continuing success of the pitching staff. The bullpen takes on additional importance with the current state of the rotation.
Thornburg was impressive against the Tigers with a seven-pitch inning and all were strikes. The significance is the previous day Thornburg was a pitching pinata allowing three runs in a dismal inning. In two previous appearances before being lit up, Thornburg was impressive allowing two hits in two innings pitched and no runs.