Before his start on Saturday night in Game 2 of the World Series, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly had to double check he was truly playing on the big stage. It was almost too good to be true.
So was his performance.
Kelly and the Diamondbacks tied the World Series at one a piece after the, 9-1, win over the Texas Rangers.
Kelly dropped an absolute Masterclass at Globe Life Park striking out nine in seven innings, giving up just three hits and one run on no walks.
According to The Athletic’s Tyler Kepner, Kelly is now the first pitcher to work seven innings in a World Series game in the 2020s. The lasts to do it were Stephen Strasburg and Gerritt Cole.
Merrill Kelly is now the first pitcher to work seven innings in a World Series game in the 2020s. The last pitchers to do it were Stephen Strasburg (8.1 IP) and Gerrit Cole (7 innings twice) in 2019.
— Tyler Kepner (@TylerKepner) October 29, 2023
Merrill Kelly was carving 'em up. #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/Y3zxxPcPtw
— MLB (@MLB) October 29, 2023
Live look at Merrill Kelly: pic.twitter.com/g3cuLaAoMB
— Dallas Braden (@DALLASBRADEN209) October 29, 2023
Sarah Langs per usual carved up her own numbers pointing out the company Kelly joins with those nine strikeouts and no walks:
Merrill Kelly: 9 K, 0 BB
only 4 pitchers have had more strikeouts with no walks in a WS game:
2017 G1 Clayton Kershaw: 11
1949 G1 Don Newcombe: 11
2009 G1 Cliff Lee: 10
1903 G1 Deacon Phillippe: 10 [1st ever WS game]— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 29, 2023
That Merrill Kelly performance pic.twitter.com/8RdKQPxQwH
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) October 29, 2023
Kelly’s story is an inspiring one. The Arizona native was working his way through the Tampa Bay Rays farm system where he ended up playing in the South Korean KBO League for the Wyverns from 2015-’18.
After that, the D-backs signed him to a two-year deal.
And well, here he is.
Despite all of the success, he says he’s still adjusting, but did say after the game it was one of his better executions with his pitches.
“That was the goal coming in — for me, that’s my whole game,” Kelly told Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal after the game.
Merrill Kelly had the performance of his life tonight in Game 2 of the #WorldSeries
The @dbacks starter spoke with @Ken_Rosenthal about his journey to this moment pic.twitter.com/q6DVh235Bm
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 29, 2023
Kelly also talked about his journey from spending four seasons playing overseas to dominating in a World Series.
“I dreamt of it, but I think it definitely — when I was doing it, that was all it was, was a dream,” Kelly added. “It took a lot of hard work, a lot of being in the right place, I got to hand it to — I got to give a lot of credit to the Arizona organization for giving me a chance to be here. I appreciate them a lot for giving me this opportunity, but I’m just glad we got it done tonight.”
[MLB on Fox]
