PHOENIX (AP) Merrill Kelly bounced back from three straight shaky starts to pitch seven effective innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the New York Mets 2-1 for a much-needed win on Saturday night.
Kelly (2-3) allowed a run on three hits and Paul Sewald worked a perfect ninth for his eighth save in as many chances. It was Arizona’s third win in 11 games.
Mets starter Clay Holmes (4-3) allowed a two-run single to Ildemaro Vargas in the third inning, but was otherwise sharp, allowing two runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings.
He got little help from the Mets’ offense. New York had three hits a night after pulling out a 3-1 win in 10 innings over the Diamondbacks.
Kelly was much better after allowing 19 earned runs over 13 2/3 innings his previous three starts.
The right-hander allowed Brett Baty’s run-scoring single in the second inning and stranded two in the fifth after Tyrone Taylor’s two-out double. Kelly struck out six and walked three.
Arizona’s starters have pitched at least six innings in five straight starts for the first time since doing it in six straight last September.
Holmes held the Angels to an earned run in 6 2/3 innings his last start and was sharp again.
The right-hander worked around Adrian Del Castillo’s leadoff double in the second inning before running into trouble when Arizona loaded the bases in the third. Vargas lined a two-run single, but Holmes retired the next nine batters until being lifted following Nolan Arenado’s two-out single in the sixth.
Holmes had six strikeouts and two walks. He’s allowed two or fewer earned runs in all eight starts this season.
RHP Eduardo Rodriguez (3-0, 2.50) will pitch the series finale for the Diamondbacks on Sunday. The Mets have yet to name a starter.
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| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |
| 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| HITTERS | AB | R | H | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J. Soto LF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .273 |
| B. Bichette SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .226 |
| M. Melendez DH | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .277 |
| M. Vientos 1B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .231 |
| C. Benge RF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .204 |
| M. Semien 2B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .230 |
| B. Baty 3B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .207 |
| F. Alvarez C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .236 |
| T. Taylor CF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .206 |
| HITTERS | AB | R | H | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K. Marte 2B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .210 |
| C. Carroll RF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .266 |
| G. Perdomo SS | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .227 |
| A. Del Castillo DH | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .218 |
| I. Vargas 1B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .350 |
| N. Arenado 3B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .273 |
| L. Gurriel LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .218 |
| J. Barrosa CF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .187 |
| G. Moreno C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .226 |
| R. Waldschmidt CF-LF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .250 |
- 2B – B. Baty (6), T. Taylor (2)
- RBI – B. Baty (13)
- 2-Out RBI – B. Baty
- Runners left in scoring position, 2-Out – B. Bichette, F. Alvarez
- 2B – K. Marte (4), A. Del Castillo (4)
- RBI – I. Vargas 2 (24)
- 2-Out RBI – I. Vargas 2 (2)
- Runners left in scoring position, 2-Out – C. Carroll, N. Arenado, L. Gurriel, G. Moreno
| PITCHERS | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C. Holmes(L, 4-3) | 5.2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 1.86 |
| A. Warren | 1.1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1.00 |
| C. Kimbrel | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6.75 |
- Pitches-Strikes – C. Holmes 103-64, A. Warren 17-12, C. Kimbrel 19-9
- Ground Balls-Fly Balls – C. Holmes 8-6, A. Warren 2-1, C. Kimbrel 0-1
- Batters Faced – C. Holmes 24, A. Warren 5, C. Kimbrel 5
- Pitches-Strikes – M. Kelly 96-58, T. Clarke 12-8, P. Sewald 17-12
- Ground Balls-Fly Balls – M. Kelly 4-5, T. Clarke 1-2, P. Sewald 0-1
- Batters Faced – M. Kelly 26, T. Clarke 3, P. Sewald 3