Nootbaar's Pinch Grand Slam Backs Kelly's Shutout Effort

Lars Nootbaar launched a pinch-hit grand slam in the seventh inning to break open a close game. Merrill Kelly tossed seven shutout innings, allowing just two hits, as the Diamondbacks beat the Giants 7-1 in the opener of a doubleheader. The win improved Kelly's record to 9-12.

In a tightly contested doubleheader opener, the Diamondbacks broke a scoreless deadlock in the seventh inning when Lars Nootbaar, called upon as a pinch hitter, delivered a grand slam to turn a close game into a rout. Merrill Kelly, the starting pitcher, had kept the Giants off the board through seven innings, surrendering only two hits while striking out a modest number of batters. His shutout effort, combined with the sudden offensive burst, gave Arizona a commanding lead that the bullpen preserved. The victory moved Kelly to 9-12 on the season, a modest record that belies his effectiveness on days like this. Such performances are typical in a long baseball season, where a single swing can transform a pitcher's duel into a lopsided scoreline.