Merrill Kelly achieved a milestone at Coors Field, throwing his first career complete game. He had made 177 starts in his Major League career and 382 professional starts overall prior to this.
Kelly’s performance led the D-backs to a 9-1 victory against the Rockies. Manager Torey Lovullo described it as a “statement” win for Arizona after a loss to the Rangers.
Kelly’s Historic Outing
Lovullo noted the significance of Kelly’s complete game. He said it was a testament to off-season hard work.
Kelly’s was the fourth complete game of the 2026 season. He is the first nine-inning complete game by a D-backs pitcher at Coors Field since Patrick Corbin on May 20, 2013. At 37 years and 213 days old, Kelly became the oldest pitcher to throw a complete game at Coors Field. Kelly also tied Corbin for the fourth-most quality starts in D-backs history with his 85th.
Since 2022, Kelly has thrown seven consecutive quality starts at Coors. He has the most among any visiting pitcher.
Kelly is the oldest pitcher to throw a complete game in the Majors since Adam Wainwright in 2022. He is the second-oldest pitcher in the past 80 years to record his first MLB complete game. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Connie Marrero was older when he threw his first complete game on May 21, 1950, at 39 years and 26 days old.
Pitching Strategy and Efficiency
Kelly allowed one run on four hits, walking none and striking out three. Lovullo said Kelly’s pitch-to-contact mentality would be a strength for Kelly despite Coors being a hitter’s haven.
Kelly said he is always looking for weak contact to get the at-bat over with quickly. He reached a three-ball count twice and got 13 of his 27 outs on two pitches or fewer. In the eighth, he only needed four pitches to retire the side.
Lovullo noted that Kelly created contact by being around the plate.
Manager’s Reaction
Lovullo said of 9:13 p.m. MT on Friday, when Kelly struck out TJ Rumfield to cap his masterpiece, “It was a great moment.”
After Kelly’s eighth inning, he had a conversation.
- Kelly yielded one run on four hits.
- He walked none and struck out three.
- Kelly got 13 of his 27 outs on two pitches or fewer.
At 37 years and 213 days, Merrill Kelly is the oldest pitcher with a complete game since Adam Wainwright in 2022.