Merrill Kelly’s disastrous start dooms D-backs in 3rd straight loss to Dodgers

May 17, 2022, 9:59 PM | Updated: May 18, 2022, 10:50 am

Merrill Kelly #29 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches during the first inning in game two of a doubleheader against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on May 17, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

BY JAKE ANDERSON

Arizona Sports

For the third straight game against the Dodgers in two days, the Arizona Diamondbacks took an early lead in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

And for the third contest in a row, the D-backs fell to their NL West Division rival, this time 12-2 in the second matchup of a doubleheader.

Jordan Luplow and Christian Walker gave Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly a two-run cushion before taking the mound with back-to-back solo home runs in the top of the first inning off Dodgers starter Tyler Anderson.

And @CWALK328 makes it back-to-back bombs with his 3rd in 3 games! pic.twitter.com/hajVGB1FYH

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) May 18, 2022

Kelly failed to record an out before the Dodgers tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom half of the frame.

Los Angeles’ Mookie Betts walked, Freddie Freeman doubled and Trea Turner brought them both in with a two-RBI single before getting thrown out at second base.

The Dodgers poured it on in the second with six runs, all of which came off of Kelly.

After walking Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger to start the inning, a Gavin Lux two-RBI double made it 4-2 Dodgers before another Turner RBI single made it 5-2 Los Angeles.

Edwin Rios homered the very next batter to make it 8-2 Dodgers with the sixth and final run of the second inning.

Kelly finished the night having only gone 2.0 innings and allowed eight earned runs on five hits (one HR), four walks (one IBB) to go along with two strikeouts on 56 pitches (35 strikes).

“We had a lot to overcome. Merrill got dinged up a little bit and I think we lost a little bit of momentum for a little while throughout the middle parts of this game,” manager Torey Lovullo told reporters postgame. “I felt we got off to a good start. We had a couple solo home runs and we were ready to go, we have one of our guys on the mound.

“But we’re a young team and we did a lot of immature things today. We have to tighten that up. I don’t care what venue it is. I don’t care where we’re playing, who we’re playing against — we have to play better.”

The Dodgers added three more insurance runs in the sixth and one more in the eighth off D-backs right-handed reliever Edwin Uceta, who was recalled from the team’s taxi squad earlier on Tuesday after RHP Keynan Middleton was placed on the 15-day injured list due to right elbow inflammation.

The Diamondbacks offensively finished the night with three runs on 11 hits and no walks and left six runners on base while going 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and striking out a total of eight times. They also committed three errors defensively.

“Sloppy in a lot of different ways in a lot of different areas,” Lovullo said. “We have to put the ball in play. We talk about it. These guys slug with men on base and you can’t give them free passes. Got to put the ball in play. You have to pick up the baseball and you got to throw it the right way to the right bases.

“When you give them extra outs, it’s going to cost you and that’s what happened today.”

Arizona has now lost five games in a row and falls to two games under .500 with a record of 18-20.

UP NEXT

The D-backs complete the four-game series in three days against the Dodgers on Wednesday at 1:10 p.m. on ESPN 620 AM or 98.7 FM HD-2.

Arizona RHP Zach Davies is scheduled to start against Los Angeles RHP Walker Buehler.

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Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, center, plays catch with his son Charley, right, as his other son Cooper rolls on the grass prior to a baseball game between the Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, left, is chased by his son Charley prior to a baseball game between the Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, center, pitches to his son Cooper, left, as his other son Charley watches prior to a baseball game between the Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, right, is pitched to by his son Charley prior to a baseball game between the Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, center, holds his son Cooper, left, as his other son Charley stands by as they played prior to a baseball game between the Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Jordan Luplow, right, hits a solo home run, as Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Anderson, left, and catcher Austin Barnes watch during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Cody Bellinger can't reach a ball hit for a solo home run by Arizona Diamondbacks' Christian Walker during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Christian Walker, left, celebrates with Josh Rojas after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Jordan Luplow, left, heads to first as he hits a solo home run, as Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Anderson watches during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Jordan Luplow, left, is congratulated by Christian Walker after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Christian Walker, right, hits a solo home run as Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Anderson, left, watches along with catcher Austin Barnes during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Edwin Rios, right, heads to first as he hits a three-run home run while Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly watches during the XX inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Anderson throws to the plate during the third inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Edwin Rios, left, celebrates as he rounds first after hitting a three-run home run as Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly watches during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Edwin Rios, second from right, is congratulated by teammates Freddie Freeman, second from left, and Trea Turner, left, after hitting a three-run home run as Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Jose Herrera stands at the plate during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman, left, and Mookie Betts laugh after they scored on a single by Trea Turner during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes, right, attempts to throw out Arizona Diamondbacks' Alek Thomas at first as home plate umpire David Rackley calls a foul ball during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Hanser Alberto, who normally plays in the infield, gestures after the Dodgers defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 12-3 in a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts, right, scores on a double by Freddie Freeman as Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Jose Herrera takes a late throw during the eighth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Trea Turner hits an RBI single as Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Jose Herrera watches during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Josh Rojas, left, fields a ball hit by Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts as third baseman Geraldo Perdomo backs him up during the eighth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Los Angeles. Rojas was charged with an error on the play after losing control of the ball. Betts was safe at first. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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