An unexpected team is instilling tension in the loose National League West Division. The protagonist is the Arizona Diamondbacks. However, the key to leading this team is Merrill Kelly (35), who is writing the KBO League reverse export myth.
Kelly made his 12th start of the season against the Atlanta Braves in the ‘2023 Major League Baseball’ held at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, on the 3rd (Korean time).
Kelly has been a part of the team’s starting lineup with fantastic pitching this season. And following that momentum, he played well on this day, leading the team to 6 consecutive victories.메이저놀이터
On this day, Kelly was Ronald Acuna Jr. (right fielder) – Matt Olsen (1st baseman) – Austin Riley (3rd baseman) – Sean Murphy (catcher) – Travis Dano (DH) – Eddie Rosario (left fielder) – Azzie Albis (2nd baseman) – Orlando Arcia (shortstop)-Michael Harris II (center fielder) faced the Atlanta batting line.
The Atlanta batting line boasts powerful offense enough to rank second in the National League in team home runs and slugging percentage. Against Atlanta, which was so outstanding, Kelly showed off his skills.
▲ Kelly overpowered the opposing team with his excellent pitching.
In the top of the first inning, lead hitter Acuña Jr. hit an infield hit, but catcher Gabriel Moreno stopped him from stealing and tied the follow-up hitters up and didn’t give up a run. The first run was in the second inning. After two deaths, Rosario hit a solo gun that went over the middle right, making it 1-2.
At the beginning of the 3rd inning, I received help from the beasts who continued the lake rain parade. Center fielder Corbin Carroll dived and caught the batted ball from lead hitter Harris II and prevented him from reaching base. In the 2nd and 1st base, Riley was hit with a double that flowed down the left foul line, but the fielder made a fantastic relay play and caught the 1st base runner who was digging into the home.
After treating the top of the 4th and 5th innings as a three-way offense, Kelly finished the inning without conceding a run in the top of the 6th inning. In the top of the 7th inning, he once again gave Rosario a solo home run after one run, but finished the mound by blocking subsequent batters.
The team faced a crisis after Kelly went down. At the beginning of the 9th inning with a 3-2 lead, they almost allowed a tie with 1 out, 1st and 3rd base, but closer pitcher Miguel Castro blocked the run with his own hand to preserve the team’s victory. Kelly recorded a quality start plus (3 earned runs in 7 innings or less) with a final score of 7 innings, 5 hits (2 homers), 3 walks, 8 strikeouts and 2 runs, and won 7 wins of the season.
In an interview with Canadian sports media ‘TSN’ after the game, Kelly said, “The past few years we lost in situations like that (run crisis), but we were confident to finish the game.” That’s why. He showed good energy against a really good team,” he said of his victory.
▲ The Arizona team holding a ceremony. This season, the team has surprised many with unexpected performances.
Meanwhile, Arizona recorded a season record of 35 wins and 23 losses with this victory. He is tied for the top spot in the National League West with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The same district includes the Dodgers, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, and Colorado Rockies.
Arizona has been sluggish in recent years. The Dodgers, San Francisco, and San Diego were maintaining the top ranks with good results, but this year, the teams continue to perform unexpectedly, adding tension to the National League West.