Drew Pomeranz improved, but Joe Kelly falters in Red Sox’s loss

12:57 AM ET

BOSTON — This time, Drew Pomeranz gave the Boston Red Sox more of what they expected when they traded for him.

If only the same could be said of Joe Kelly.

Pomeranz made one mistake — a fastball that drifted back over the plate and got hit for a two-run home run by Detroit Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias — in six otherwise solid innings Monday night at Fenway Park. But Kelly, making his first relief appearance since being moved to the bullpen and recalled from Triple-A, allowed a costly insurance run in the seventh inning of a 4-2 loss, Boston’s third defeat in four games.

And so it goes that every time Red Sox pitching moves one step forward, it also takes one back.

Joe Kelly was unable to build off Drew Pomeranz’s quality start, giving up a costly run in the seventh. Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports

When the Sox acquired Pomeranz on July 17 from the San Diego Padres for prized Single-A pitching prospect Anderson Espinoza, they hoped he would provide enough reliability to stabilize their rotation. But in his Red Sox debut last week, he allowed five runs on eight hits and failed to record an out in the fourth inning.

Against the Tigers, Pomeranz threw even more curveballs than usual — a season-high 53, to be exact …

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