Diamondbacks robbed of 2 home runs in shutout loss to Padres, Merrill Kelly gem spoiled

SAN DIEGO — The Arizona Diamondbacks had two potential home runs robbed by San Diego Padres outfielders in a 1-0 loss on Tuesday night, which spoiled a masterful start from Merrill Kelly.

Corbin Carroll sent a ball deep to center field during the fifth inning in a 0-0 stalemate, and Jackson Merrill beat it to the spot, leaped and brought it down. He robbed Carroll of the go-ahead, two-run home run after Carroll hit that ball 105 mph against Padres starter Nick Pivetta.

Down 1-0 in the eighth, Josh Naylor shot a ball to right field only for Fernando Tatis Jr. to bring it back.

Fernando Tatis Jr. gets in on the fun with a home run robbery of his own! 😱 pic.twitter.com/gMdxnWr2kJ

— MLB (@MLB) July 9, 2025

It is not too common to see one home run robbery, but they happen on occasion. Going to a game and seeing two, particularly by the same team? That’s not something those in the clubhouse had seen before.

“  I don’t think so,” Carroll said when asked if he’d seen two home runs robbed in a game.  ”I thought it had a chance, but it happens. It’s baseball.”

“No, I’ve definitely never seen two robbed home runs in my life,” Kelly said. “I’ve seen, obviously, one in a game, that happens a decent amount, but I’ve definitely never been part of a game that has two, especially to the same team.”

“It just goes to show you good defense can help you win games and win moments,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “I’ve never seen two in one game.”

The home run robberies — and a solo home run by Luis Arraez in the seventh inning — proved to be the difference in the game with Arizona failing to capitalize at the plate in other key moments.

Arraez’s home run (358 feet) actually had a projected distance shorter than the near home runs from Carroll (406) or Naylor (374).

The D-backs suffered a shutout loss for the second time in three days, while the Padres collected their league-leading 14th shutout win. The loss was charged to Kelly, a cruel fate after he allowed one earned run in seven efficient innings.

Merrill Kelly dominant vs. Padres before exiting with calf issue

Kelly did not throw more than 13 pitches in any of his seven innings, finishing with 77 pitches thrown. He seemed destined to get through eight or even nine frames if the opportunity arrived.

Lovullo took him out after Kelly felt slight discomfort in his right calf during the seventh inning. Kelly and Lovullo maintained the issue would not affect Kelly’s next start.

Kelly mentioned this was a different sensation than the cramping issues he’s dealt with in the past.

“A couple pitches felt just a little kind of grab on the calf,” Kelly said. “Nothing really to be worried about, but with my past, I figured it was something to at least mention.”

The right-hander did not walk anyone on Tuesday, and while he only struck out four batters, Kelly consistently drew weak contact. He only allowed four hits, and the home run from Arraez was the sole extra-base hit. The Padres had no plate appearances on Tuesday with runners in scoring position.

“Looking up in I think the seventh inning and seeing him at like 66 pitches, that was kind of shocking,” Carroll said.

The ball was firing out of Kelly’s hand, as he threw four fastballs 95.5 mph or faster. According to Statcast, Kelly had thrown only three pitches that hard throughout his entire career.

His average four-seamer on Tuesday (94 mph) was 2.2 mph hotter than his season average (91.8 mph).

“ I saw some (velocities) today that I haven’t seen in a very long time, so that’s encouraging,” Kelly said. “Mechanically, we’ve been trying to tinker with some stuff and see if we can get some of the rhythm back. Tonight it definitely showed itself.”

Kelly said some of those adjustments included a bit more load on the back side and not being too quick through the delivery.

He also explained that Petco Park is a special place for him to pitch since he made his major league debut in San Diego.

Kelly’s counterpart, Pivetta, delivered 5.2 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts. He threw seven innings with two earned runs last month at Chase Field, as the D-backs have had trouble figuring him out.

Missed chances

The two home run robberies also stick out because the D-backs failed to execute in two critical spots.

The Diamondbacks nearly broke through in the fourth inning but stranded the bases loaded with one out. Pivetta struck out Eugenio Suarez on a sweeper off the outside edge, and he blew away Lourdes Gurriel Jr. with a 3-2 fastball over the middle to end the jam.

Against the San Diego bullpen, Arizona loaded the bases again in the seventh inning, but Ketel Marte struck out on three pitches against Adrian Morejon to end the frame.

The D-backs (45-47) finished 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base.

“We did a good job of creating some traffic tonight,” Carroll said. “Pivetta is a good pitcher … I thought it was just a couple balls not going our way. One of those nights.”

Arizona has been shut out three times this season. It tied a season low with three hits on Tuesday despite working five walks with a hit-by-pitch.

Up next for Diamondbacks

The third leg of this four-game series starts at 6:40 p.m. MST on Wednesday. Brandon Pfaadt (5.42 ERA) will start for Arizona, while veteran right-hander Dylan Cease (4.62 ERA) will go for San Diego.

The series is even at 1-1.

Catch the game on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app. 

Related

Diamondbacks’ Odyssey: Club starts 4-city road trip that could determine trade deadlineDiamondbacks score season-high 15 runs to secure series win over AthleticsRyan Waldschmidt crushes 1st major league home run, and it went a long wayD-backs move top prospect, Nogales native Demetrio Crisantes to Triple-AIldemaro Vargas walks off Athletics in extra innings, Diamondbacks move into tie for wild card spotDiamondbacks top pick Ryder Helfrick gets major league preview: ‘It was unreal’