Merrill Kelly fell within one out of his first complete game, Daulton Varsho and David Peralta each homered in the eighth inning, and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Colorado Rockies 4-1 on Friday night.
The game was tied 1-1 in the eighth when Varsh found a 98 mph fastball from Carlos Estevez and sent the ball over the right-field fence. It was Varsho’s sixth home run of the year.
Two batters later, Peralta added a two-round shot that put the Diamondbacks up 4-1.
Arizona has won four in a row to move above the .500 mark for the first time since the season opener. He has a record of 14-13.
Timely homers by the Diamondbacks helped Kelly (3-1) get the win. The right-hander required 106 pitches to process 8 2/3 innings, during which he allowed one run and seven hits.
He handed out a couple of walks and had eight strikeouts. His ERA improved to 1.23.
For the Rockies, the Venezuelan Elías Díaz 4-1. Cuban Jose Iglesias 3-1.
For the Diamondbacks, the Venezuelans Peralta 4-1 with one run scored and two produced, Jonathan Herrera 2-1. The Dominican Ketel Marte 3-1.
