Jul 26, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (29) delivers a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Diamondbacks' Offense Squanders Merrill Kelly's Quality Start

Originally posted on Arizona Diamondbacks on SI
By Jack Sommers | Last updated Jul 26, 2025 10:02 PM ET

The look on starter Merrill Kelly's face looking out onto the field with his arms folded across the top of the dugout railing said it all. In what might have been his final start in a Diamondbacks uniform, his team was shut out by the Pittsburgh Pirates Saturday night, losing 2-0.

With the drama of the mid-game trade of Randal Grichuk taking place, the offense was completely distracted and could get nothing going, wasting a quality start by Merrill Kelly.

The Diamondbacks mustered just four hits in the contest, after scoring one run on five hits in 11 innings on Friday. Over their last five games, Arizona is batting just .214 and have scored eight runs, losing four of five games.

Kelly threw 6.2 innings, allowing two runs, one earned. Both runs came on a home run by Oneil Cruz in the bottom of the second inning. Just prior to the homer, Eugenio Suarez botched a very routine player to put a man on base.

Kelly worked around some base traffic from there, allowing five hits and a walk, but was in control nonetheless in holding the Pirates from any further scoring. His ERA dropped to 3.22 but he took the loss and is now 9-6.

Kelly is a free agent at the end of 2025, and is widely expected to be traded before the MLB July 31 trade deadline.

Andrew Saalfrank got a big strikeout to end the seventh inning with men on base, and Kendall Graveman pitched a scoreless ninth.

Pirates starter Andrew Heaney threw the first five innings, allowing just two hits and didn't walk a batter. Three Pirates relievers got the ball to David Bednar who pitched a perfect ninth inning to record his 16th save.

The Diamondbacks are now 51-54, and will try to win the rubber match of the series on Sunday. That will be no easy task, as they'll be facing ace Paul Skenes.

Zac Gallen starts for Arizona, in what could be his last start as a Diamondback as well. First pitch is 10:35 a.m. MST.