Merrill Kelly goes 7 strong innings in start to build on, Giants walk off Diamondbacks

SAN FRANCISCO — Arizona Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly put together a vintage outing with seven innings and two earned runs, but the San Francisco Giants picked up a 3-2 walk-off victory on Thursday to avoid getting swept at home.

Giants catcher Patrick Bailey delivered the walk-off, ground-rule double off Kevin Ginkel, scoring Tyler Fitzgerald after he stole second base.

Arizona, meanwhile, mustered four hits despite knocking Giants starter Blake Snell out after the first inning. The D-backs finished 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

PATRICK BAILEY WALKS IT OFF pic.twitter.com/1tqarSfcXv

— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) September 5, 2024

Even with the team’s loss, Kelly’s performance was a very positive sign as the D-backs put together three quality starts at Oracle Park. Ryne Nelson went 6.2 innings with two earned runs on Tuesday and Zac Gallen delivered six hitless frames on Wednesday.

“He had that presence, he had that type of day,” manager Torey Lovullo said of Kelly. “I know there were some moments where he could take some pitches back, but overall, it was seven quality innings, two runs. He was throwing any pitch at any time, had a lot of swing-and-miss, had some big outs at the right time. That was a Merrill Kelly-type of outing.”

Merrill Kelly’s best start back

Kelly struck out eight batters and did not record a walk in his first quality start since missing more than three months with a teres major strain. The veteran, in his fifth start back, retired six in a row and nine of 10 to end his outing at 94 pitches. He exited with the score tied 2-2.

Kelly said he had the most confidence in his pitches doing what he wanted them to do and going where they needed to go since his return. He allowed 14 earned runs over his previous three starts, citing location issues as a key hindrance.

“It was definitely more like it,” Kelly said postgame. “Definitely a game to, even though the result wasn’t what we wanted, definitely a game for me personally to take and build on.”

Merrill Kelly, 7th and 8th Ks. pic.twitter.com/LHQ8XDU23s

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 5, 2024

“I think it’s just the development of getting more reps under my belt and being more comfortable with knowing I’m healthy and being able to get out of my own way and let my body do what it’s supposed to do,” he added.

San Francisco’s two runs off Kelly came from a flare single by Bailey in the fourth inning. With runners on second and third and no outs, Kelly struck out LaMonte Wade Jr. and Fitzgerald with changeups before Bailey poked a low sinker into left field.

Kelly said he did not think the sinker was the right pitch to throw, and he took accountability postgame for not changing the call.

That said, he otherwise made big pitches all game to strand runners. Kelly said he definitely had his changeup, his bread-and-butter pitch, and he used it more often to take advantage.

Kelly had not gone seven innings into a game since his second start of the year back on April 3 against the New York Yankees.

He and Gallen finding their forms is a premium need for this team over the final four weeks of the season, which makes this series so promising even with some frustration for not closing out a sweep.

“When I first came back, you have this thought that, ‘Oh, I’m healthy, I’m good to go. I’m back.’ And obviously big-league hitters will tell you otherwise if you’re not,” Kelly said.

“Everybody in this clubhouse, not only Zac, but everybody else in this clubhouse has echoed that same message to me, ‘You’re all right. We trust you. You’re good to go.’ Obviously the support behind everybody else and then nobody panicking at the fact I had four games back that weren’t very good obviously helps me continue to move forward.”

“The more I just get out of my own way and trust the work that I’ve put in over the last however many years is going to lead to good things.”

Merrill Kelly on getting back into form for the D-backs. pic.twitter.com/1teSYsdF6R

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) September 5, 2024

Diamondbacks-Astros probables

The D-backs head to Houston for three games starting on Friday.

The series opener presents a pitching matchup of Brandon Pfaadt against Astros ace left-hander Framber Valdez.

Eduardo Rodriguez starts for Arizona on Saturday against Houston lefty Yusei Kikuchi, and the finale brings Nelson out against Justin Verlander.

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