Merrill Kelly throws 1st career complete game, Diamondbacks beat Rockies 9-1
TL;DR
Merrill Kelly achieved his first career complete game as the Diamondbacks defeated the Rockies 9-1. Kelly allowed four hits and struck out three in the game.
Key points
- Merrill Kelly threw his first career complete game
- Diamondbacks beat Rockies 9-1
- Ildemaro Vargas went 4 for 5 with two RBIs
- Kelly allowed four hits and struck out three
- Diamondbacks' record is now 21-22
DENVER (AP) — Merrill Kelly threw his first career complete game, Ildemaro Vargas was 4 for 5 with a double and two RBIs and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Colorado Rockies 9-1 on Friday night.
Kelly (3-3) allowed four hits and had three strikeouts without a walk. The 37-year-old right-hander threw 100 pitches, 73 for strikes, in the fourth complete game in the majors this season.
Gabriel Moreno drove in three runs, and Ryan Waldschmidt had two RBIs as Arizona opened a stretch of 13 games against only the Rockies and San Francisco Giants. The Diamondbacks are 21-22.
Moreno and Corbin Carroll added two hits apiece, and Nolan Arenado went 1 for 1 with an RBI double and four walks.
Vargas hit a run-scoring single that sparked Arizona’s six-run first inning.
Colorado's Kyle Freeland (1-5) gave up seven runs and eight hits and walked four in 3 2/3 innings.
Hunter Goodman hit his 11th homer of the season in the first for the Rockies. Moniak and Ezequiel Tovar each doubled.
Arizona made it 2-1 in the seventh on Lourdes Gurriel Jr.'s sacrifice fly and Moreno's double.
Up next
Arizona LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (4-0, 2.25 ERA) was scheduled to start Saturday against Tomoyuki Sugano (3-3, 4.07).
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
Q&A
What were Merrill Kelly's stats in his first complete game?
Merrill Kelly allowed four hits, struck out three, and threw 100 pitches with 73 strikes in his first complete game.
How did the Diamondbacks perform against the Rockies?
The Diamondbacks won 9-1 against the Rockies, with Ildemaro Vargas contributing four hits and two RBIs.
What is the Diamondbacks' current record after the game?
After the victory, the Diamondbacks' record improved to 21-22.