Merrill Kelly gave the Diamondbacks exactly what they needed Thursday night, and then some.
After two rough losses, Arizona leaned on its veteran right-hander to steady the ship, and Kelly answered with seven strong innings in a 3-1 win over the Padres. He worked efficiently, needed just 94 pitches, and allowed only one run in the second inning while striking out six. As the night wore on, he kept finding the right pitches at the right time, including a few key double plays in big spots.
The outing looked a lot like the version of Kelly Arizona has come to trust. He settled in as the game moved along, and if this really is a return to that form, it matters a lot for this club.
Paul Sewald handled the ninth and finished the job in dominant fashion, striking out Fernando Tatis Jr and Xander Bogarts. He is now 21 for 22 on the season for save opportunities.
Arizona’s offense did just enough, with all three runs coming in the middle innings. The Diamondbacks scored once in the fourth, fifth, and sixth, including Geraldo Perdomo’s RBI single in the fifth that brought Tommy Troy home. Nolan Arenado also moved closer to the 2,000-hit mark when he golfed a pitch about a foot below the strike zone over the left field fence for his 11th home run of the season.
It wasn’t a big offensive night, and the Diamondbacks still need more from that side if they’re going to make the kind of run they need. That becomes even more important with a trip to LA to face the Dodgers coming up tomorrow, and Arizona sitting a game under .500.
Still, Thursday offered a needed lift. Kelly looked like himself again, Sewald slammed the door, and the Diamondbacks left with a split. Now they have to find a way to carry that into LA.
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Merrill Kelly Gets The Ball As DBacks Make Another Bullpen Call
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The Diamondbacks have had a close view of Rodriguez for a long time, which made his rise this season feel especially meaningful around the organization. Torey Lovullo and Mike Hazen both know him well, and Lovullo was the one who delivered the news when Rodriguez was named an All-Star, a moment that carried extra weight because of how long their paths have crossed. Arizona has seen plenty of Rodriguezs game over the years, but this version, sharpened by the WBC and rewarded with a first trip to the Midsummer Classic, has given the club another reason to feel good about where his season is headed. [Read more 🡒]