Merrill Kelly pitched effectively for the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night, delivering a quality start while his team struggled offensively in a 2-0 defeat to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The game, which could be Kelly’s final outing as a Diamondback before a potential trade, saw the offense distracted amid mid-game trade activity, ultimately failing to support his efforts.
Offense Struggles Amid Trade Distraction
The Diamondbacks managed only four hits in the contest, continuing their recent offensive slump. Over the last five games, Arizona’s batting average has dropped to .214, and the team has scored just eight runs while losing four of those games. The distraction of the mid-game trade of outfielder Randal Grichuk appeared to impact the team’s performance at the plate, leaving them unable to push across any runs.
Kelly’s Strong Performance and Game Details
Kelly pitched 6.2 innings, giving up two runs—just one earned—both coming after a home run by Oneil Cruz in the second inning. This run followed an error by Eugenio Suarez on a simple play that allowed a runner to reach base. Despite some traffic on the bases, Kelly maintained control, permitting only five hits and one walk while preventing further scoring. His earned run average improved to 3.22, though he took the loss and now holds a 9-6 record.
Bullpen Holds Line, but Offense Cannot Respond
Andrew Saalfrank recorded a key strikeout to end the seventh inning with runners on base, while Kendall Graveman delivered a scoreless ninth to close the game. Meanwhile, Pirates starter Andrew Heaney limited the Diamondbacks to two hits over five innings without issuing a walk. Three relievers combined to secure the win, with David Bednar pitching a flawless ninth inning to record his 16th save of the season.
Upcoming Challenges and Series Finale
The Diamondbacks now have a 51-54 record and face a challenging series finale on Sunday, with ace Paul Skenes pitching for the Pirates. Zac Gallen will start for Arizona, possibly making his final appearance before a potential trade. The first pitch is scheduled for 10:35 a.m. MST, as the Diamondbacks aim to avoid a series sweep despite ongoing struggles at the plate.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Merrill Kelly married?
A. Kelly and his wife, Bre, have two kids named Hadley and Hayes, who is five months old. While at the ballpark, Kelly’s attention is fully on baseball. However, once the day ends, he dedicates all his focus to his family.