The Arizona Diamondbacks have been a bad baseball team for a big chunk of this season and own the worst record in the majors to prove it.
The only exception — at least in recent weeks — is when Merrill Kelly takes the mound.
Kelly threw eight efficient innings, Eduardo Escobar hit a two-run homer and the Arizona Diamondbacks avoided a three-game sweep with a 6-4 win over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.
Kelly (6-7) needed just 75 pitches to navigate the Cubs’ lineup through eight innings and threw 59 strikes.
“It’s what I try to do,” Kelly said. “Get quick outs, be efficient. I’m not the 95, 98 mile per hour guy who punches everyone out.”
Kelly was helped by two spectacular catches by Kole Calhoun. The right fielder made a diving grab on Patrick Wisdom’s sinking line drive in the second inning and saved an extra-base hit in the third when he chased down Anthony Rizzo’s long drive into the right-field corner.
“He looks like Superman out there,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said.
Kelly was pulled in the ninth after allowing a leadoff double to Kris Bryant and an RBI single to Javier Baez. The right-hander gave up four runs and six hits, struck out six and walked none while throwing 82 pitches.
