RED SOX: Bullpen getting workout

Kimbrel, Kelly, Velazquez and Barnes all called upon so far in Baltimore series.

BALTIMORE — The conversation began soon after the Red Sox posted a 6-4 victory over the Orioles on Tuesday night.

Chris Sale would take the ball the following afternoon at Camden Yards, wrapping up the three-game series and opening leg of the three-city road trip. Just who was to follow the left-hander was anybody’s guess, with Boston’s bullpen taxed by the previous two grueling nights against Baltimore.

Craig Kimbrel had thrown 56 pitches against the Orioles over a pair of appearances. Joe Kelly had worked twice. Hector Velazquez and Matt Barnes were both stretched after delivering 28 and 25 pitches, respectively, the previous evening.

“It starts with the medical staff,” Sox manager Alex Cora said prior to Wednesday’s afternoon start. “We’ve already got the information. I already talked with a few guys last night. I just talked to a few of them today — how they feel, where they’re at — and we go from there.”

Kimbrel warmed up at least three times before being summoned Monday night, closing out a 2-0, 12-inning victory. He was up again in a non-save situation on Tuesday, allowing a two-run double to Mark Trumbo in a 6-2 game before ultimately grinding his way through the final out.

“It wasn’t an easy decision because today might be a one-run game or a high-leverage situation and we don’t have him,” Cora said. “I felt like we win the series, we move on, tomorrow we’ve got Chris.”

Kelly was summoned twice with the bases loaded in the seventh inning, and each time he worked his way out of the jam. Tuesday’s bouncer back to the mound by Jonathan Schoop resulted in a 1-2 force out at the plate, with Kelly making a simple flip to Christian Vazquez.

“I have an idea who’s going to be that guy in a high-leverage situation at the end, but it all depends how the game goes,” Cora said. “It’s not that easy.”

One bright spot for the Red Sox was a high-leverage appearance Monday for Brandon Workman, his first real tight squeeze since being recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket on June 5. Workman was summoned with two outs in the ninth and the winning run aboard, but he fanned Pedro Alvarez with a breaking ball and stranded a pair in the 10th by striking out Trey Mancini.

“Can’t really afford to make a mistake,” Workman said. “Everybody that threw that night, it’s a big spot. I’m just glad I was able to throw well.”

“He’s a lot better than spring training — the fastball up and the breaking ball,” Cora said Tuesday. “The velocity is not 94, 95, but 91, 92 is enough to create separation. He made some good pitches yesterday.”

Workman is the lone member of the pitching staff with a World Series ring, that coming with Boston in 2013. It’s been a point of emphasis for Cora, motivation he began using as early as spring training. The fact that Workman was demoted to the minor leagues prior to the season and is now making a meaningful contribution is also something Cora has consistently cited.

“I told these guys in spring training there are a lot of guys that are going to be here who weren’t here to start the season who are going to contribute,” Cora said Tuesday. “So far, if you look at the guys who have contributed — (Marcus) Walden, (Bobby) Poyner, now Workman — that’s part of the equation.

“I felt good coming into the season with our pitching staff, our relievers. I felt last year that was a strength of the team.”