Merrill Kelly outduels Zac Gallen as Rangers top Diamondbacks

On a night heavy with nostalgia and storylines, former Arizona Diamondbacks teammates Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly faced each other as opponents for the first time. What should’ve been just another game quickly turned into an emotional showdown, with late-inning drama pushing the Diamondbacks to a wild victory.

The matchup showed off both pitchers’ talent. Arizona’s offense, led by Ketel Marte, refused to back down when it mattered most.

A First-Ever Duel Between Old Friends

Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly anchored the Diamondbacks’ rotation for years. Wednesday night, though, Gallen wore Arizona’s colors while Kelly took the mound for the Texas Rangers.

Both guys brought pride and professionalism. Still, facing each other for the first time added a weird, extra layer to the night—almost like watching brothers battle it out.

Kelly Outlasts Gallen, but Not the D-backs

Merrill Kelly had the longer outing. He worked six innings, gave up two runs on seven hits, and struck out five—reminding everyone why he’s one of MLB’s most reliable arms.

He’s still third in Diamondbacks history for wins (62), just one ahead of Gallen. Something tells me Gallen’s not thrilled about that.

Gallen ground through five innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits and two walks. The big blow came in the fourth, when Jake Burger smashed a two-run homer that flipped the momentum toward Texas.

The Ninth-Inning Rally That Stole the Game

Most folks talked up the pitching duel before the game, but Arizona’s offense stole the show late. Down 4-3 heading into the ninth, the Diamondbacks needed something special.

That’s when things got wild.

Ketel Marte’s Heroics

James McCann started the rally with a solo shot, cutting Texas’s lead to one. Then Blaze Alexander got plunked and Geraldo Perdomo drew a gritty walk.

With two outs and everything on the line, Ketel Marte stepped in and absolutely crushed a go-ahead three-run homer. The Arizona dugout exploded. The Rangers’ crowd? Not so much.

Marte looked locked in all night, going 3-for-3 against Kelly. He had an RBI single in the third and led off Arizona’s hit parade in the first.

By the end, he tallied two RBIs and put together a night D-backs fans won’t forget anytime soon.

Closing the Door

Up 6-4, the Diamondbacks gave the ball to Andrew Saalfrank. The lefty calmly worked through the ninth, nailing down his first save of 2024 and shutting the door on Texas.

Game Takeaways

• Zac Gallen: 5 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, gave up a homer to Jake Burger.
• Merrill Kelly: 6 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 5 K in his first-ever start facing Arizona.
• Ketel Marte: 3-for-3, 2 RBIs, and a game-winning three-run blast in the ninth.
• Andrew Saalfrank: Earned his first save of the season under pressure.

Looking Ahead

This showdown was more than a regular-season game. It felt like a symbolic passing of the torch from Kelly to Gallen as Arizona’s ace, even if they’re on opposite sides now.

Kelly didn’t get his first win against his old club. Still, both pitchers showed a ton of respect for each other’s games.

The Diamondbacks pulled off a come-from-behind victory. Wins like this might just light a fire under the team for a midseason surge.

Texas, meanwhile, faces another reminder of just how thin the margins can be in baseball’s most dramatic moments.

When people look back at this duel, they’ll probably remember more than just the stats. The reunion of two respected pitchers, Ketel Marte’s bat, and the Diamondbacks’ grit all made this night stand out in the 2024 season.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Merrill Kelly outlasts Diamondbacks’ Zac Gallen for Rangers