Merrill Kelly outlasts Zac Gallen but D-backs win in duel of former locker mates
Longtime Diamondbacks teammates Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly faced each other for the first time in their careers, but it was Ketel Marte who stole the show.
Watch: What will the Arizona Diamondbacks do with Ketel Marte? | 7 mins
Longtime Arizona Diamondbacks teammates Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly faced each other for the first time in their careers on Wednesday, and while the now-Texas Rangers pitcher lasted longer, the D-backs came out ahead.
Because Texas led 3-2 when Gallen exited, Kelly will maintain his sole position as third in Diamondbacks history for pitcher wins (62). Gallen sits one win behind.
The D-backs had the last laugh as Ketel Marte smashed a go-ahead, three-run home run with two outs in the ninth to give the D-backs a 6-4 lead and the win.
You wanted to face Ketel Marte. You sure about that? pic.twitter.com/QRZPuBemdb
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) August 13, 2025
After two strikeouts to start the inning, James McCann launched a homer to left field to cut the Rangers’ lead to one run.
Blaze Alexander was hit by a pitch and Geraldo Perdomo drew a walk to set up Marte’s moonshot to right center.
In the first inning, Marte became the first Diamondback to get a hit against their former teammate, Kelly, and Gallen surrendered the game’s first run when Evan Carter singled home Josh Smith. Kelly responded with a clean second inning before Gallen allowed a walk but no other baserunners.
Marte showed the first inning was no fluke when he had an RBI single to score Perdomo, who had worked a walk and a steal against a pitcher with whom he had numerous mound visits over the years.
Marte finished 3-for-3 against Kelly with the RBI.
Texas pounced on Gallen in the fourth inning, when Jake Burger launched a 434-foot home run to score two runs and give the Rangers a 3-1 lead.
Gallen pitched just one more inning to finish the day with three earned runs on five hits and two walks in five innings.
Kelly, meanwhile, had a clean sixth inning to finish a two-run, seven-hit and five-strikeout performance against the club he pitched his first 162 games for.
Andrew Saalfrank came on in the ninth to earn his first save of the season.
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Comments
11 Comments
It is refreshing to see the other team's bullpen blow the game in the 9th for a change
Man, come on, stop lying. To say they neglected the BP is false. You cant argue that. They had a 7% change to make the Playoffs so they traded players....to fix the pin that was decimated by injury. That is 100% the right decision and still is. Go look at their remaining schedule. Basically all playoff teams save a few.
They signed beeks and shelby in the offseason which ended up being very good signings. To say they neglected the BP then turn around and complain about trading Miller, is flat out dishonest (though yes, that was they only trade i found bad...awful really).
Also, the DBacks have 22 blown saves, so you are just wrong. I think you are referring to leads lost by relievers.
Be honest, in the offseason after bringing in Beeks and Miller, which player for the BP would you have DFA or dropped to reno?
A.J. Puk, Justin Martinez, Mantiply, Ginkel, Ryan Thompson, Ryne Nelson, Shelby Miller
You are complaining about what? Not signing 1 more reliever in place of Mantiply? Really? As if that would have made some 10 game difference, especially after literally all of them got injured (Ginkel started the season on IR and Bryce was in his place)? Are you kidding me? Or are you being dishonest and saying you predicted both Thompson and Ginkel falling apart this season and we should have DFAd/demoted them before the season?
It only took Lovello 3/4 of a season to realize Carroll is not a lead off hitter. Maybe his Mom called him.