Diamondbacks pitching is in a funk, Ildemaro Vargas keeps hit streak alive in loss to Brewers
By the end of the sixth inning in Milwaukee on Tuesday, The Diamondbacks had allowed 13 hits and six walks against the Brewers.
Arizona Diamondbacks pitching coach Brian Kaplan, second from left, talks to starting pitcher Merrill Kelly during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
By the end of the sixth inning in Milwaukee on Tuesday, the Arizona Diamondbacks had allowed 13 hits, six walks and a catcher’s interference against the Brewers.
Milwaukee entered the game hitting .300 with runners in scoring position, one of the best timely-hitting teams in the league.
That equation resulted in an ugly 13-2 loss for Arizona, which has allowed double-digit runs in three of its last eight games. Catcher James McCann came in to pitch for the third time this season already — and his last two appearances have been scoreless.
At some point, the only worthwhile storyline to watch became whether Ildemaro Vargas would extend his hitting streak to 24 games. After an 0-for-1 start with a walk and a sacrifice bunt (likely attempted single), he came back up for one more chance in the eighth inning.
On an 0-2 count, Vargas lined a single to center field off former Diamondbacks pitcher Jake Woodford. With the knock, Vargas tied Tony Womack (2000) for the third-longest hitting streak in franchise history.
Next on the list is Paul Goldschmidt at 26 games.
Vargas has hit safely in all 21 games he has played this season and is the defending National League Player of the Week.
Tough start for Merrill Kelly
Merrill Kelly made his third start of the season since coming off the injured list (back), and he has yet to look as sharp as the Diamondbacks have been accustomed to over the years.
Kelly walked five hitters on Tuesday, raising his total to 12 over his first three starts. This is only the third instance in Kelly’s career (dating back to 2019) when he has walked that many hitters over a three-game span.
The right-hander’s WHIP rose to 2.25 — his career WHIP is 1.21.
Kelly stranded the bases loaded in the first inning, allowed a solo home run to Sal Frelick in the second and threw a 1-2-3 third inning. He had retired seven straight hitters, but walks came back to bite.
The Brewers tacked on from there, as two walks led to two runs in the fourth and three hits plated another pair in the fifth. Kelly allowed five runs in five frames, 13 runs over his last two starts.
Kelly threw 104 pitches but only 58 for strikes. He tossed at least 22 pitches in three separate innings.
And Kelly benefitted from McCann throwing out two runners trying to steal second base.
The Diamondbacks were still within striking distance down 5-2 when he exited, but that no longer became the case after a disastrous sixth inning.
Brutal, brutal 6th inning
Andrew Hoffmann entered the game for Kelly to provide length, and he recorded one out.
Eight runs came home to score during his outing, which went as followed:
- Single (ground ball)
- Single (bunt)
- Single (bunt)
- Single (ground ball)
- Single (ground ball)
- Walk
- Single (broken bat blooper)
- Single (line drive)
- Pop-up
- Catcher’s interference
- Ground-rule double
- Pitching change
By the end of the sixth inning, the Brewers were 8-for-15 with runners in scoring position, dinking and dunking the Diamondbacks off the field.
The D-backs have allowed eight runs in an inning twice in their last seven games.
Arizona’s offense was kept quiet for most of the game, as well. Milwaukee out-hit Arizona 15-3.
Brewers starter Chad Patrick, the one-time Diamondbacks prospect, threw five innings with two earned runs on one hit (five walks).
The Diamondbacks have dropped three of the last four games to fall to 15-13. The Brewers have won two games in a row to improve to 15-13.
Diamondbacks’ next game
The series continues on Wednesday at 4:40 p.m. MST.
Eduardo Rodriguez will pitch for Arizona, while young right-hander Brandon Sproat gets the ball for Milwaukee.
Catch the game on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app.
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Comments
30 Comments
That was my concern when the Dbacks signed him during the off-season. We spent $40M for him. A 37-YO pitcher who is battling Father Time. His injury during spring training can be caused by repetitive motion...in other words, years of throwing baseballs.
We spent $2M for 40-YO Carlos Santana who has two hits ($1M per hit so far) and is on the IL.
We gave $40M to Kelly...that $40M could have been spent on young pitchers with a future.
We gave $45M-5Yr plus $46M two year options to Pfaadt, a pitcher with a lifetime ERA of 5.16.
We are spending money but it has been spent unwisely.
I don't think that TL or the organization knows who is actually contributing.
Yesterday during the Burns and Gambo show, Gambo was talking how the 7-8-9 hitters are making a big contribution to the team and he mentioned Tawa.
Tawa is batting .146 or failing to get a hit 85% (.854) of the time! I am glad that Tawa hit the grand slam against San Diego but that is NOT an everyday occurrence. I would take a batting average of .275 from Tawa over a home run once or twice a year.
Gambo repeated how the 7-8-9 hitters are making a big contribution to team and he he mentioned Tawa by name to TL when he was interviewing him on his show yesterday. TL should have corrected Gambo..."Tawa's grand slam was important but Tim is only batting .146 for the year, he needs work."