Phoenix –
Meryl Kelly gave up a looping home run that barely cleared the wall in the first inning.
Rest of the inning and rest of his start: dominant.
Kelly struck out 10 in seven innings, Corbyn Carroll returned to the lineup and hit a home run, and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Washington Nationals 3–1 on Friday night.
“Today was Merrill day. “He was locked up, pitching all day, all night. I think he only had one problem with his first solo home run. After that, he was completely locked up.”
Kelly (3-3) first hit a Luis Garcia slicing homer just inside the foul pole, but also struck out three innings. He allowed a run on four hits and walked one on two consecutive solid starts.
Carroll came home from Josiah Gray in his first start since hitting the wall against Colorado last Sunday (2-5). Andrew Chafin posted a perfect ninth with his fifth save with six chances to complete a total of four hitters.
“He didn’t hit us a lot,” Nationals manager Davey Martinez said of Kelly. It was tough tonight.”
Kelly, who conceded six innings in his last start against Colorado, lost runners for second and third in the second round. He then settled into a rhythm and gave up two singles before finishing his third career double-digit strikeout game.
“I probably feel better than I’ve been in a while,” Kelly said. , you can see that today everything was a little sharper and a little tighter.”
Gray has been sharp since allowing five runs in his season-opening start, giving up five runs in his next five starts combined.
The Washington right-hander didn’t have his best against the Diamondbacks.
Carroll, who pinch hitter against Texas Wednesday, hit a home run in the third inning. Arizona loaded the bases in the fourth inning against Gray and took a 3–1 lead on an infield hit by Josh Rojas after a video review overturned an outcall, followed by a sacrifice fly by Quetel Marte.
Gray has 7 hits, 3 runs, 6 strikeouts, and no runs in 6 innings.
“It was an OK outing,” said Gray. I could have kept it, but I thought it would be fine.”
fantastic fletcher
Dominic Fletcher made the most of his first call-up to the big leagues.
The Arizona outfielder started his career by hitting in the second inning, then scoring a run and extending his hitting streak to four straight games. This is three games behind the team record set by David Peralta in 2014.
Rojas D
Rojas was 4-0 at the plate, but that didn’t affect his defense.
The Arizona third baseman made some tough plays, including a diving stop and a tough throw from behind Victor Robles’ bag in the seventh inning.
“He’s playing Gold Glove defense, but that play isn’t easy,” Robro said. Play, but he’s been doing it all year round.”
trainers room
DIAMONDBACKS: RHP Zach Davis, who is working to recover from a left oblique strain he suffered on April 8, had a bullpen session at the Spring Training Complex in Arizona.
next
Washington LHP Mackenzie Gore (3-2, 3.77 ERA) will face Arizona LHP Tommy Henry (1-0, 6.52) in the mid-series on Saturday.
