Diamondbacks’ Merrill Kelly exits game with calf cramp after tossing 5 scoreless innings vs. Brewers

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly exited Saturday night’s 5-0 win against the Milwaukee Brewers after five scoreless innings with a right calf cramp, according to the team.

Kelly was warming up between the fifth and sixth innings when catcher Jose Herrera noticed the right-handed starter was showing signs of discomfort.

Trainers came out to Kelly and removed him from the contest. Kelly had previously experienced leg cramping twice this season.

Kelly escaped an early jam by shuffling a ball over to third baseman Eugenio Suarez for a force out on Brewers third baseman Joey Ortiz and producing a bang-bang double play.

With a 2-0 lead in the third inning, Kelly served up two singles to right fielder Sal Frelick and Ortiz to lead things off. Brewers catcher Eric Haase laid a bunt down the third-base line and Kelly made a heads up play to snag the ball and neutralize lead runner Ortiz.

The threat of a crooked number remained as second baseman Brice Turang approached the plate. Turang smacked one to the glove of D-backs short stop Geraldo Perdomo, who got the force out at second but had to complete a quick throw to first in order to turn two.

Perdomo’s laser-like effort to first baseman Christian Walker was on the money but officials initially ruled Turang safe. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo made a risky challenge only a few innings into the contest, but the call was overturned and the challenge was retained.

Merrill Kelly wins the battle after 𝟏𝟓 𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬! 😅

Here’s every pitch thrown in that AB. pic.twitter.com/KC7XMBvkSf

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) September 21, 2024

Kelly held the Brewers to two hits and no runs through the opening five frames. The right-hander struck out four consecutive Milwaukee batters to end his day, including a clean sweep of the fifth inning.

Left-handed reliever Joe Mantiply took the mound to begin the sixth after securing the final three outs in a 9-4 win over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday. Mantiply retired his first six batters, featuring four punch-outs.

Joe Mantiply, K'ing the Side in the 7th. pic.twitter.com/K5wdYsD9Tv

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 22, 2024

Kevin Ginkel was slotted in for the eighth and used one strikeout to put the Brewers’ 5-6-7 hitters down in order. He reclaimed some form in back-to-back appearances this series, only giving up two hits and striking out three in 2.0 innings.

A.J. Puk closed the door on Milwaukee with two swinging strikeouts and a groundout. From Kelly to Puk, the D-backs’ pitching staff did not allow a baserunner past the third inning.

Designated hitter Joc Pederson got the D-backs on the board with a two-run home run off of right-hander Aaron Civale that slammed high on the right-center wall at American Family Field. Herrera followed up Pederson’s 23rd with his first major league home run in the fifth to increase the Arizona lead to 3-0.

FIRST CAREER HOME RUN FOR JOSE HERRERA!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/CKbIwNlWcM

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) September 22, 2024

Second baseman Ketel Marte put the win on ice with a two-run shot to right center that scored Corbin Carroll (0-for-2, three walks), who moved back to right field with Jake McCarthy back in the lineup. Marte went 2-for-2 at the plate and walked three times one game after the 2024 MLB All-Star set a career-high for home runs in a single season.