Kelly’s Dominant Start
Merrill Kelly delivered a masterful performance on the mound, pitching seven innings of efficient baseball to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 3-1 victory over the San Diego Padres. Kelly (7-8) allowed just three hits and one earned run while striking out six batters and issuing three walks. His outing was the foundation of the Diamondbacks' success, allowing his offense to capitalize on key scoring opportunities.
Kelly’s command was evident throughout his time in the game. He faced the minimum through the early innings before the Padres managed to generate some offense. His ability to keep the ball in the park and limit extra-base hits kept San Diego’s potent lineup in check for the majority of the contest. The win improved his record to 7-8 on the season.
Scoring Highlights
The Padres took an early lead in the second inning when Machado launched a 368-foot home run to right field, putting San Diego ahead 1-0. The Diamondbacks responded in the fourth inning, tying the game at 1-1. The run came via two wild pitches by Padres pitcher Griffin Canning, which allowed Kepler to score from second base, with Gurriel Jr. advancing to second on the same sequence of events.
Arizona reclaimed the lead in the fifth inning. Perdomo singled to center field, driving in Troy to make it 2-1. The Diamondbacks added an insurance run in the sixth inning when Arenado homered to left-center field, a 387-foot shot that extended the lead to 3-1. The home run provided the final margin of victory, as the Padres were unable to respond.
