ST. LOUIS -- Right-hander Joe Kelly will make his Red Sox debut on Wednesday night against his former Cardinals teammates. If that won’t be odd enough, the opposing starter will be Kelly’s best friend, Shelby Miller.
Each was the best man at the other’s wedding last November.
“It was good to come sleep in my own bed last night,” Kelly said. “It’s going to be strange but I’m just excited to pitch. It’s been a week since I pitched.
“I just want to go out there and compete and try to not worry about any other distractions.”
Kelly said he and Miller had exchanged text messages, wishing each other good luck.
“You want to be out there every time and pitch the best you can with no excuses,” Kelly said. “There will be some emotions there, but I am going to try to minimize them and focus on the task at hand.”
Farrell said he is eager to watch Kelly pitch.
“I’m sure he will be excited and the adrenalin will be flowing,” Farrell said.
Roster shuffle continues: With Allen Craig going to the disabled list, the Red Sox called up outfielder Corey Brown from Triple-A Pawtucket, where he was hitting .276 in 83 games.
Brown signed as a minor-league free agent with the Red Sox last winter. He has played 36 games in the major leagues, all with the Washington Nationals, between 2011 and 2013.
The Red Sox also made a roster move on the pitching side, calling up right-handed reliever Heath Hembree from Pawtucket. The move was made so Steven Wright could remain a starter, Farrell said.
Wright was optioned to Pawtucket after Sunday's game.
Hembree was one of two pitchers acquired by the Red Sox in the trade that sent Jake Peavy to the Giants on July 26.
“We needed to get the bullpen back to full strength,” Farrell said. “Hembree’s got a big arm. His two outings in Pawtucket were consistent with the reports we had coming over from the Giants.”
Hembree had a combined 19 saves at the Triple A level this season. He made nine appearances with the Giants in 2013.
