Kelly excels, D-backs get late homers to top Rockies
PHOENIX – Merrill Kelly came within one out of his first complete game, Daulton Varsho and David Peralta hit home runs in the eighth inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Colorado Rockies 4–1 on Friday night.
It was tied at 1 in the eighth when Varsho hit a high 98 mph fastball from Carlos Estévez over the right field wall. It was Varsho’s sixth homer of the year.
Two batters later, Peralta added a two-run drive that pushed the D-backs ahead 4-1.
Arizona has won four straight games, jumping above .500 for the first time since opening day with a 1413 mark.
The D-backs’ timely homers allowed Kelly (3-1) to earn the win. The righthander needed 106 pitches to navigate his 8 2/3 innings, giving up one run on seven hits and two walks while striking out eight. He lowered his ERA to 1.23 ERA.
Kelly gave up back-toback singles with two outs in the ninth, and he was pulled in his 70th major league start.
Manager Torey Lovullo brought in Mark Melancon, who walked Sam Hilliard to load the bases. José Iglesias followed with a liner that deflected off Melancon, but he was able to recover and get the out at first.
The Rockies took a 1-0 lead in the first when C.J. Cron’s double landed on the left field foul line, scoring Connor Joe. The Diamondbacks made it 1-all in the second on Seth Beer’s sacrifice fly.
Colorado got another quality outing from righty Chad Kuhl, who gave up one run over six innings and lowered his ERA to 1.82. He struck out five, walked two and gave up three hits.
WEST IS BEST
With the win by the Diamondbacks, every team in the NL West currently has a winning record.
MEA CULPA
Major League Baseball veteran umpire Dan Bellino issued an apology after ejecting Diamondbacks star pitcher Madison Bumgarner from a game in Miami this week, which Arizona eventually won 8-7.
The Diamondbacks said Friday they received a copy of Bellino’s apology from MLB.
“I would like to address my actions on May 4th involving Madison Bumgarner,” the statement said. “When I began my MLB career almost 15 years ago, I received some good advice. I was told to umpire every game as if my children were sitting in the front row. I fell short of those expectations this week. While I can’t go back and change what happened, I take full accountability. I will learn from this incident, and I sincerely apologize.”
Bellino was giving a routine foreign substance check to Bumgarner following the first inning Wednesday in Miami when the ejection occurred. Bumgarner said something to Bellino as the check was ending, and the umpire threw him out.
Bumgarner faces no further discipline from MLB.
The 43-year-old Bellino joined the full-time MLB umpiring staff in 2011 and worked the World Series last year.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Diamondbacks: Reinstated INF Josh Rojas and Melancon from the 10-day injured list. INF Sergio Alcantara was designated for assignment and RHP Corbin Martin was sent to Triple-A Reno . ... C Carson Kelly (left abdominal soreness) was scratched just before the game. Jose Herrera started in Kelly’s place.