PHOENIX —Merrill Kelly delivered another steady outing, and the Arizona Diamondbacks used timely offense and a strong bullpen effort to hold off the Milwaukee Brewers for a 4-3 victory.
Kelly worked five innings, allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out six and walking two. He threw 92 pitches, including 57 strikes, and limited the damage despite frequent traffic on the bases.
Milwaukee threatened early, but Kelly stranded runners in the opening inning to keep the game scoreless before Arizona’s offense provided immediate support.
With two outs in the bottom of the first, Corbin Carroll drew a walk and advanced to third on a single by Gabriel Moreno. Adrian Del Castillo followed by launching a home run clearing the bases to give the Diamondbacks an early 3-0 lead.
Kelly repeatedly answered Milwaukee’s offensive pressure throughout the night. After the Brewers put runners on second and third with one out in the second inning, Kelly struck out Jake Bauers to end the threat.
His biggest moment came in the fourth. The Brewers loaded the bases with two outs, but Kelly escaped unscathed by inducing a fly out to left field, preserving Arizona’s three-run advantage.
Milwaukee finally broke through in the fifth when Brice Turang doubled ahead of Christian Yelich’s two-run home run, trimming Arizona’s lead to 3-2. The Brewers continued to threaten with additional runners on base, but Kelly worked out of another jam to leave the potential tying run stranded and finish his outing.
Arizona’s bullpen protected the one-run lead the rest of the way. Jonathan Loáisiga followed Kelly with a scoreless sixth before Brandyn Garcia and Juan Morillo each delivered clean innings to maintain the advantage.
The Diamondbacks added an important insurance run in the eighth. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. singled before Ildemaro Vargas drove home pinch-runner Jorge Barrosa with an RBI double, extending Arizona’s lead to 4-2.
Paul Sewald recorded the final three outs for his save, though Milwaukee made it interesting when Jackson Chourio hit a solo home run with two outs in the ninth. Sewald retired the final batter on a ground ball to secure the victory.
Kelly earned the win, while Sewald collected the save as the Diamondbacks bounced back from Friday night’s extra-inning loss.
The victory improved Arizona to 44-44 on the season and evened the three-game series at one game apiece.
The Diamondbacks will look to secure the series win in Sunday’s finale at Chase Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. MST. Arizona is expected to send first-time All-Star Eduardo Rodriguez to the mound as the left-hander looks to help the Diamondbacks earn the series victory over Milwaukee. ♦︎
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