D-backs Fall Short Against Yankees But Win Series

The Arizona Diamondbacks faced a tough challenge on Thursday night, April 3, 2025, as they took on the New York Yankees in the final game of a three-game series at Yankee Stadium. Despite their hopes for a sweep after winning the first two games, the D-backs encountered a formidable opponent in a Yankees lineup that was eager to rebound from their earlier losses.

Merrill Kelly, the D-backs’ starting pitcher, was looking to build on a promising season debut where he pitched 5.1 innings, allowing only one run on three hits. However, things took a turn for the worse almost immediately in this game when he faced the Yankees. Kelly was unable to find his rhythm early on, and the Yankees capitalized on his struggles.

In the bottom of the first inning, Kelly faced a daunting challenge when Ben Rice led off with a deep fly ball that was misjudged by Alek Thomas, resulting in a ground-rule double. The Yankees quickly took advantage of the situation, scoring four runs in the inning, three of which came from a massive three-run homer by Aaron Judge. Kelly later allowed an RBI double to Trent Grisham, and the damage was done early.

“Just a bad day against a good team,” Kelly reflected postgame. “I think they did a really good job of sticking to their game plan.” He acknowledged that he struggled to execute his pitches, particularly when it came to locating the ball effectively. “Getting bad counts, getting behind guys,” Kelly lamented. “I couldn’t throw anything on the inside part of the plate to lefties. Had trouble getting to the outside part of the plate to righties.”

By the time Kelly exited the game after 3.2 innings, the D-backs found themselves trailing 9-3. He finished the night allowing nine runs on nine hits and three walks, striking out only two batters. The Yankees continued to pour it on, with Judge hitting another RBI single and Jazz Chisholm contributing a two-run homer in the fourth inning.

Despite the tough outing from Kelly, the D-backs showed resilience. In the seventh inning, they mounted a comeback that brought them back into contention. Geraldo Perdomo hit a grand slam, narrowing the Yankees’ lead to just two runs at 9-7. “We kept fighting,” said D-backs manager Torey Lovullo. “I’ve been in this stadium for a long time, I’ve been in a lot of games in this stadium, and I just felt like there’s no lead that’s safe.”

Even with the offensive spark, the D-backs were unable to complete the comeback, ultimately losing the game but winning the series 2-1 against the Yankees. The defeat was a bitter pill for Kelly, who felt he let down his teammates after they fought hard to put runs on the board. “The most frustrating part of tonight is not being able to kind of settle down and calm the ship after the first couple of innings,” he said. “Your offense puts up seven runs, you want to feel like you got a pretty good shot of winning that game, you know?”

Looking ahead, Kelly knows he needs to tighten things up before his next scheduled start against the Baltimore Orioles. “You go out one game and you feel the best you’ve ever felt,” he said. “Then you go out the next time and it feels like you’ve never thrown a baseball before.”

The D-backs' pitching staff had previously limited the Yankees’ powerful lineup in the first two games of the series, showcasing their ability to contain big hitters like Judge and Cody Bellinger. In those games, they allowed just five hits in 31 at-bats against these stars, including a remarkable 16 strikeouts. The D-backs had hoped to continue that trend in the series finale.

As the season progresses, the D-backs will look to build on their early success and maintain their competitiveness in a tough National League West division, where they currently trail the undefeated Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. With Kelly's experience and determination, he will undoubtedly be looking to bounce back and help his team in their quest for a strong season.

In conclusion, while the D-backs faced a setback in their quest for a sweep, they demonstrated resilience and the ability to fight back, which bodes well for the rest of the season. The team will be eager to put this loss behind them and continue to build on their positive momentum as they prepare for their next matchup.