Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly’s delivery was in sync, the ball felt good coming out of his hand and his pitches were, more or less, doing what he wanted them to do. For four innings on Wednesday, Kelly was looking like his old self – and then, in a matter of moments, he was walking off the mound with a trainer at his side.
Kelly departed the Diamondbacks’ 14-4 win over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday with right hamstring cramping. In the sense that he is expected to make his next start, the issue can be viewed as not overly concerning.
But given that it is at least the fourth time in the past 13 months that Kelly has departed a start due to cramping, it would seemingly present a new worry for the Diamondbacks as they gear up for the postseason. Kelly believed it was a problem he had put in his rearview mirror, making what happened on Wednesday all the more frustrating.
“That’s definitely the overwhelming feeling more than anything,” Kelly said. “At this point it’s just kind of the beat-your-head-against-the-wall type feeling. We’ve obviously tried all kinds of things and for it to be popping up again is obviously just frustrating.”
It was, otherwise, another delightful day for the Diamondbacks. Eugenio Suarez had four hits, including two homers and a double, in his latest offensive eruption. Ketel Marte had three hits, one of which being his first home run since returning from the injured list last week. Adrian Del Castillo and Randal Grichuk each homered and Corbin Carroll had two hits.
The Diamondbacks collected 13 extra-base hits, tying a club record set on May 17, 2014, vs. the Dodgers.
The Diamondbacks never trailed on Wednesday. Marte (double), Carroll (triple) and Grichuk (homer) made it 3-0 after just three batters in the bottom of the first, and Suarez (homer) and Marte (RBI single) helped make it 5-0 after two.
The win was the Diamondbacks’ 82nd of the season, assuring them of a winning record and leaving them just two wins shy of their total from last season with 16 games remaining. It gave them a sweep in what was an abbreviated, two-game set.
They kept pace with at least the New York Mets, who won in Toronto. The San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves, the other clubs pushing for wild cards, were set to play later in the day. The Diamondbacks entered the day with a two-game lead on a wild-card spot.
Kelly had to leave early from three consecutive home starts during the second half last year due to cramping in his legs. He said he had been sticking to the same hydration and dietary regimen that the team’s medical staff had recommended but once again had the issue arise unexpectedly.
“I think that’s one of the reasons why it’s so frustrating,” Kelly said. “It seems like that’s kind of been the theme of the cramping stuff: It seems like it’s good for a little while and then all of a sudden it’ll attack me out of nowhere.”
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Kelly is expected to make his next scheduled start; the club has not announced the day but his next turn could come on Monday or Tuesday at altitude in Colorado.
Said Lovullo: “I’m not going to downplay it and say there’s zero concern. Of course there is. But I know we’re doing all that we can. … We’ve got to figure out how to make it not happen again.”
Kelly turned in a strong performance last week in San Francisco, giving up two runs in seven innings in what was his best outing yet since returning from the injured list last month. He was on track to follow that up with another sharp one on Wednesday before the hamstring grabbed.
“I feel like my rhythm and timing is starting to come back,” he said. “The ball is coming out of my hand better. The velo is back to kind of somewhat normal, pre-injury stuff. The ball had life on it. The curveball was good. Slider was good. Cutter was good. Pretty much everything.
“… I think that’s one of the more frustrating parts is when I’m going well and I actually feel good and then it kind of just stops me in my tracks. Other than that, happy with the progression and how I felt today.”
—Nick Piecoro
Coming up
Friday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (2-2, 5.83) vs. Brewers RHP Tobias Myers (7-5, 2.93).
Saturday: At Chase Field, 5:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (9-8, 4.42) vs. Brewers RHP Freddy Peralta (10-8, 3.81).
Sunday: At Chase Field, 1:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (12-6, 3.55) vs. Brewers RHP Aaron Civale (6-8, 4.57).
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Diamondbacks blast off against Rangers, but Merrill Kelly exits early with injury
Local News
Comments / 0