Diamondbacks Dominate Phillies 12-5, Extending Series Win Streak

Merrill Kelly, fresh off the injured list, leads the D-backs to a commanding 12-5 victory over the Phillies Sunday at Chase Field.Photo byMegan EllisonUnsplash

PHOENIX – The Arizona Diamondbacks (66-53), winners of 21 of their last 27 games, defeated the Philadelphia Phillies (69-49) 12-5 on Sunday at Chase Field, securing a 3-1 victory in their four-game series.

The D-backs have now won eight straight series, their longest streak since 2018.

Merrill Kelly (3-0, 2.43 ERA), reinstated from the 60-day injured list, made his first start since April 15. He had been sidelined since early May with a teres major strain in his right shoulder.

In his triumphant return, the 35-year-old allowed two runs on three hits over five innings, striking out two and walking two on 85 pitches (52 strikes).

Kelly utilized a five-pitch arsenal, including a changeup (20 pitches, 24%), cutter (19 pitches, 22%), four-seam fastball (17 pitches, 20%), slider (12 pitches, 14%), and sinker (12 pitches, 14%) to earn the win.

Game Recap

Alec Bohm’s two-run double in the first inning, scoring Trea Turner and Bryce Harper, gave the Phillies an early 2-0 lead.

The Diamondbacks responded in the bottom of the first with back-to-back singles by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Josh Bell, followed by Randal Grichuk’s RBI single to cut the lead to 2-1.

In the top of the third, with two outs, Bryce Harper lifted a 351-foot fly ball to left field that appeared destined for the D-backs' bullpen, but Gurriel Jr. scaled the wall to rob him of extra bases.

The Diamondbacks broke out in the bottom of the third, sending eight players to the plate.

Gurriel Jr. and Bell singled, Eugenio Suárez hit an RBI double, Adrian Del Castillo added a two-run single, Kevin Newman doubled, and Del Castillo scored on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 5-2.

With two outs in the fifth, the D-backs rallied again.

Newman and Alek Thomas singled, and after a pitching change, Geraldo Perdomo walked to load the bases. Jake McCarthy then cleared them with a triple down the right-field line, just out of Harper’s reach, breaking the game open at 8-2.

In the sixth, Suárez reached on a throwing error by Bohm that pulled Harper off the bag. Del Castillo singled, putting runners on the corners. Newman followed with his 19th double of the year, driving in a run to make it 9-2.

The Phillies fought back in the top of the seventh when Nick Castellanos singled, J.T. Realmuto doubled, and Brandon Marsh's RBI single made it 9-3.

Cal Stevenson followed with an RBI single to cut the lead to 9-4, and Kyle Schwarber’s sacrifice fly made it 9-5.

In the bottom of the seventh, Perdomo greeted Phillies reliever José Alvarado with a single. McCarthy's RBI single made it 10-5.

With McCarthy on first, Corbin Carroll launched his 11th home run of the season, a two-run, 396-foot shot to right-center, giving the D-backs a commanding 12-5 lead.

D-backs Relievers

Joe Mantiply replaced Kelly and pitched a scoreless sixth inning, allowing no hits and one walk while striking out one on 11 pitches.

Dylan Floro allowed three runs on four hits in one inning of work, throwing 17 pitches without issuing a walk or striking out a batter.

A.J. Puk pitched a scoreless eighth inning, allowing one hit and striking out two on 15 pitches.

In the ninth, Paul Sewald pitched a scoreless inning, allowing no hits with one walk and one strikeout on 14 pitches.