The Boston Red Sox will be without a key piece of their bullpen for the next week.
Joe Kelly's appeal was denied and he will begin serving his six-game suspension Thursday for his role in a benches-clearing brawl with the New York Yankees on April 11.
The right-hander was initially suspended April 12 for hitting Tyler Austin with a pitch several innings after the Yankees first baseman caught Red Sox infielder Brock Holt with his spikes on a slide. Austin was furious after being hit and charged the mound, resulting in punches being thrown and the benches clearing.
Kelly appealed the ruling and had a hearing Friday in Oakland. Austin was handed a five-game suspension for his involvement but also appealed and had it reduced to four games on Thursday.
The Red Sox will be forced to play with a 24-man roster for the duration of Kelly's suspension. In 11 appearances this season, he owns a 3.09 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and 11 strikeouts.
