The strategy worked wonders. Hembree allowed zero runs in his four playoff appearances, including a routine 11th inning in an epic World Series Game 3. The Red Sox reliever with the next-lowest ERA was Kelly, who led the bullpen with 11 1/3 innings pitched over nine games and allowed only one earned run, striking out 13 without issuing a single free pass—an extraordinary feat for a pitcher who’s normally not stingy with walks. Despite his pedestrian regular-season stats, he signed a three-year, $25-million deal with the Dodgers in December.
