Merrill Kelly’s Return to the Diamondbacks
Merrill Kelly made his first regular season appearance for the Arizona Diamondbacks since July 26 on Tuesday. Although not flawless, he was solid enough to secure a win against the Baltimore Orioles.
Effective Performance
Kelly pitched 5.1 innings, allowing two earned runs in a 4-3 victory, throwing 86 pitches in his comeback from the injured list. Last season, he ranked tenth in Major League Baseball for starts with at least 5.1 innings and two or fewer earned runs (18), as noted by Stathead. This performance showcased Kelly’s consistency, earning him the nickname “Merrill the Mainstay.”
Game Highlights
After a strong start with a 1-2-3 first inning, Kelly faced some challenges, including a solo homer from catcher Samuel Basallo in the second. In the third inning, he struggled with walks, leading to one run being walked in. However, he managed to regain his composure, leaving the bases loaded in the third and finishing the next 2.1 innings with just one hit and two strikeouts. Overall, he allowed five hits, four walks, and recorded three strikeouts, demonstrating the effectiveness of his changeup.
Diamondbacks Rally
Arizona was down 2-0 but rallied in the fifth inning, scoring four runs. Three of those came from a go-ahead home run by Ildemaro Vargas after a seven-pitch walk by Jorge Barrosa. The bullpen played robustly, with Taylor Clarke, Ryan Thompson, and Paul Sewald delivering scoreless innings, with Sewald earning his sixth save of the season.
Ildemaro Vargas Makes History
Vargas hit a crucial home run in the fifth inning, extending his hitting streak to 11 games, a new franchise record for the Diamondbacks. He surpassed the previous record of 10 games set by David Peralta and others. Vargas, one of the offseason’s most impactful signings, is currently batting .381 with a 1.076 OPS.
Upcoming Challenges
The D-backs, having played well on their East Coast road trip, conclude their nine-game stretch on Wednesday at 9:35 a.m. MST. They will return to Chase Field on Friday, holding a winning record of 5-3 from the trip, with Eduardo Rodriguez set to pitch against Baltimore’s Kyle Bradish. A win on Wednesday would ensure Arizona claims all three road series.
Catch the game on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app.
