Merrill Kelly struck out 10 in seven strong innings, Corbin Carroll homered in his return to the lineup and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Washington Nationals 3-1 on Friday night.
Kelly (3-3) gave up a solo homer to Luis García in the first, but also had three strikeouts in the inning. He allowed a run on four hits and walked one in his second straight solid start.
Carroll homered off Josiah Gray (2-5) in his first start since crashing into the wall against Colorado last Sunday. Andrew Chafin worked a perfect ninth for his fifth save in six chances to complete the combined four-hitter.
Kelly, who allowed a run in six innings against Colorado his last start, gave up García’s slicing homer just inside the foul pole in the first inning, then stranded runners at second and third in the second. He settled into a rhythm after that, giving up a pair of singles before finishing with his second career double-digit strikeout game.
Gray had been sharp since allowing five runs in his season-opening start, giving up five runs in his next five starts combined.
The Washington right-hander didn’t have his best stuff against the Diamondbacks.
Carroll, who pinch-hit against Texas on Wednesday, hit a solo homer in the third inning. Arizona loaded the bases against Gray in the fourth, going up 3-1 on Josh Rojas’ infield single — after a video review overturned an out call — and Ketel Marte’s sacrifice fly.
Gary didn’t come out for the sixth inning after allowing three runs on seven hits with six strikeouts.
