BOSTON — Red Sox reliever Zack Kelly began the seventh inning with a two-run lead after replacing starter Tanner Houck who tossed 6 strong innings.

Kelly faced three batters. He allowed a single, then hit two batters. Boston’s lead was gone two batters later when Justin Wilson replaced Kelly and allowed all three inherited runners to score on an RBI sac bunt and two-run single.

“Obviously just gonna have to wear this one,” Kelly said. “I think Tanner deserved a win today. Just unfortunately I couldn’t come in and do my job.”

The Red Sox lost 8-4 to the White Sox on Sunday here at Fenway Park. Boston dropped to 12-11 overall on the season and 3-3 against the White Sox who have won just five games.

“Gotta figure something out. Gotta figure something out quick,” Kelly said. “It starts tomorrow.”

Kelly has allowed 10 runs, all earned, 12 hits and two walks while striking out 11 and hitting two batters in 10 innings (seven outings).

 “I don’t think it’s as bad as the ERA says but I think it’s a struggle confidence-wise right now,” Kelly said about his 2025 season to date. “Like I said, I don’t think I’m pitching as bad as the ERA says but it’d be nice to find a zero.”

Kelly’s first two outings were scoreless. But he hasn’t had a zero since April 3 at Baltimore. He has allowed at least one run in each of his past five relief appearances.

“I come in here and I work and I try to keep the same routine and it’s frustrating,” Kelly said.

Kelly allowed a single to Lenyn Sosa after falling behind in the count 1-0. He then hit No. 7 hitter Joshua Palacios with an 0-2 sweeper and drilled No. 8 hitter Miguel Vargas with a 2-1 cutter to load the bases with no outs.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever hit two people in an inning in my entire life,” Kelly said. “The first one, trying to go with the backfoot sweeper for the swing-and-miss. Don’t get it there. And then I was just trying to go in with the cutter. Backed up on me and just a pretty frustrating outing.”

Manager Alex Cora said Houck had his “best start of the season.”

“Guys have to step up in the bullpen. That’s the bottom line,” Cora said.

Cora said he thinks Kelly was “great” Tuesday against the Rays when he threw 43 pitches in 2 ⅓ innings to save the bullpen.

“But we’ve gotta be consistent,” Cora said. “We’ve gotta be better than the one good outing a week. And he knows it.”