SCOTTSDALE — Arizona Diamondbacks pitchers Merrill Kelly and Brandon Pfaadt continue to make progress as they took the mound for the third time this spring against the Kansas City Royals at Salt River Fields on Tuesday.
Kelly threw 48 pitches across 3.1 scoreless innings while allowing five hits and one strikeout. He matched his spring training high of 48 pitches thrown against Seattle on March 11.
Kelly had his defense working early, as they caught two runners in the first inning.
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Royals center fielder Maikel Garcia was thrown out by catcher Adrian Del Castillo. Kelly then caught the eager-footed second baseman Michael Massey leaving first too early for the final out of the third.
It’s the third time this spring that Kelly successfully picked off a baserunner from the mound.
“I’ll take outs anytime, anywhere I can get them,” Kelly said. “If it’s a pick-off here and there, Del obviously made a really good throw down to second base today. I kind of live and die with those types of things and hopefully they go more in my favor.”
His repertoire of pitches was close to even, as he threw 25% sinkers, 21% sliders and 19% on changeups and fastballs. His fastball topped out at 94.8 mph on the second to last batter faced on the afternoon.
Kelly was pulled in the fourth inning after surrendering a double (which left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. lost in the sun) to Massey and a single to right fielder Hunter Renfroe.
Runners were on the corners when Justin Martinez entered in relief. Martinez was able to induce a 4-6-3 double play on his second pitch to keep Kelly’s line scoreless.
“We did little things today and that’s what we’ve been talking about,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “We’ve really been emphasizing the little things are gonna show up and help us win … One that stands out for me was J-Mart … One out, gets a big double-play ball so it’s a difference in the game.”
Brandon Pfaadt bounces back
Diamondbacks pitcher Pfaadt entered the game in the fifth inning and delivered three frames with three hits, one run and one walk while striking out two.
Pfaadt threw 40 pitches, which was the second-most he’s thrown all spring. His three innings pitched on Tuesday were the most in spring training so far.
“Good, I think we threw a lot of good pitches today,” Pfaadt said. “I’m pleased with that, the first time going three. So, we threw a few more in the bullpen after. I think we’re building up as planned, and we’ll be ready to go.”
Pfaadt threw 12 more pitches in the bullpen after he was pulled out of the game. He gave up three runs in 1.1 innings in his last start against San Francisco as he continues to compete for a rotation spot.
“I think just movement on pitches is getting better and better each outing,” Pfaadt said. “And it’s hard to replicate the intensity in a bullpen. So, we gotta get used to in-game situations and be able to develop ourselves, and I think that’s what spring training is for. So, felt good today, felt better than the last outing, and hopefully next outing I’ll feel even better.”
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