Merrill Kelly dominates, run support comes in late as Diamondbacks beat Giants

Merrill Kelly pitched outstandingly under the pressure of a pitcher’s duel Saturday, paving the way to the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 7-1 win at the San Francisco Giants.

Kelly did not allow a run for the second time this season, pitching seven innings and allowing two hits and four walks while keeping San Francisco off the board. It was the second time he pitched seven innings since May 25.

Kelly had a season-high seven strikeouts, the first of which gave him 1,000 in his career. The only Arizona pitchers with more are Randy Johnson (2,077), Zac Gallen (1,078) and Brandon Webb (1,065).

The veteran had a 7.46 ERA with more walks (18) than strikeouts (17) over his previous five starts in August (25.1 innings pitched).

The Diamondbacks’ offense brought the run support in the seventh inning, as Lars Nootbaar broke the game wide open with a pinch-hit grand slam into McCovey Cove to break a scoreless tie.

LARS MADE A SPLASH!!! pic.twitter.com/dLP6tMcYCe

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) August 29, 2026

It was the third home run in a Diamondbacks uniform for the left-handed trade deadline acquisition and second in as many days, as he had a solo homer that contributed to Friday’s 10-6 win over the division rival. It was also his first career grand slam.

The baserunners did not have to do much work to set up the slam, as Gabriel Moreno and Geraldo Perdomo walked on a combined nine pitches that were the final tosses for Giants starter Matt Wilkinson.

Nolan Arenado grounded into a fielder’s choice that kept he and Moreno on, before Tim Tawa saw his own five-pitch walk to load them.

Corbin Carroll provided an insurance run the following inning on a misplayed ball in left field that left him safe at second before Perdomo’s single brought Carroll home. Two extra runs for good measure came in the ninth inning as the D-backs opened the frame with three straight hits.

Up next for Diamondbacks

This was the first game of a double-header in San Francisco in the middle of a four-game series. The win clinched at least a tie in the series.

Mitch Bratt (4.54 ERA) is expected to take the mound for the second game, which will start at 7:05 p.m. MST. San Francisco has not officially announced its starter.

Hear it on 98.7 or the Arizona Sports app.

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