Arizona Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly on Friday at the Philadelphia Phillies looked primed to match or one-up Corbin Burnes and Zac Gallen, who each delivered six innings and one earned run over the previous two games.
Kelly plowed through five innings with only 60 pitches, allowing one run with four hits and one walk. Then Kelly felt something off while warming up for the sixth, and he frustratingly walked off the mound with the athletic trainer. Kelly dealt with more right hamstring cramping.
The Diamondbacks led 2-1 at the time he left and went on to lose 3-2, as a taxed bullpen failed to hold onto the slim lead.
Juan Morillo threw a 1-2-3 sixth inning in immediate relief of Kelly, as he has yet to allow an earned run since coming up.
Left-hander Jose Castillo, selected from Triple-A Reno on Thursday, did not enjoy the same success. Kyle Schwarber hit Castillo’s first major league pitch since 2023 over the wall in right field to tie the game. Two batters later, Max Kepler pummeled a slider 422 feet for the lead.
Ryan Thompson, Kevin Ginkel and Shelby Miller each pitched in Arizona’s last two games, so it was clear early that the D-backs would have to work with a somewhat diminished bullpen.
Diamondbacks outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. — who delivered three hits on Friday — led off the ninth inning with a deep drive to left-center field, but Phillies outfielder Johan Rojas crashed into the wall to make the catch. Closer Jose Alvarado struck out Geraldo Perdomo to end the game.
The D-backs (17-15) out-hit the Phillies 10-6 but left seven runners on base.
Ketel Marte is back
Ketel Marte made his first start since April 4 as he came off the injured list before the game (hamstring).
Marte wasted no time, lacing a 107 mph single on the first pitch of the game. Corbin Carroll followed with an infield single, but the dynamic duo was stranded on base as Phillies starter Jesus Luzardo struck out the next three.
Luzardo allowed nine hits in 5.1 innings but only two runs.
Marte finished 1-for-4.
Diamondbacks next game
The Diamondbacks and Phillies series resumes on Saturday at 3:05 p.m.
Brandon Pfaadt (2.78 ERA) starts for Arizona, his first game at Citizens Bank Park since Game 7 of the 2023 NLCS. Aaron Nola (5.40 ERA) will pitch for Philadelphia (18-14).
Catch the game on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app.
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