Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno, left, congratulates starting pitcher Merrill Kelly, right, after Kelly threw a complete baseball game to defeat the Colorado Rockies, Friday, May 15, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno, left, congratulates starting pitcher Merrill Kelly, right, after Kelly threw a complete baseball game to defeat the Colorado Rockies, Friday, May 15, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

DENVER (AP) — Merrill Kelly threw his first career complete game, Ildemaro Vargas was 4 for 5 with a double and two RBIs and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Colorado Rockies 9-1 on Friday night.

Kelly (3-3) allowed four hits and had three strikeouts without a walk. The 37-year-old right-hander threw 100 pitches, 73 for strikes, in the fourth complete game in the majors this season.

Gabriel Moreno drove in three runs, and Ryan Waldschmidt had two RBIs as Arizona opened a stretch of 13 games against only the Rockies and San Francisco Giants. The Diamondbacks are 21-22.

Moreno and Corbin Carroll added two hits apiece, and Nolan Arenado went 1 for 1 with an RBI double and four walks.

Vargas hit a run-scoring single that sparked Arizona’s six-run first inning.

Colorado’s Kyle Freeland (1-5) gave up seven runs and eight hits and walked four in 3 2/3 innings.

Hunter Goodman hit his 11th homer of the season in the first for the Rockies. Moniak and Ezequiel Tovar each doubled.

Arizona made it 2-1 in the seventh on Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s sacrifice fly and Moreno’s double.

Up next

Arizona LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (4-0, 2.25 ERA) was scheduled to start Saturday against Tomoyuki Sugano (3-3, 4.07).

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly reacts after striking out Colorado Rockies' TJ Rumfield to end the ninth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 15, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly reacts after striking out Colorado Rockies' TJ Rumfield to end the ninth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 15, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly works against the Colorado Rockies in the ninth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 15, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly works against the Colorado Rockies in the ninth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 15, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman, left, tags out Arizona Diamondbacks' Nolan Arenado as he tries to scroe on a hit by Ildemaro Vargas in the second inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 15, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman, left, tags out Arizona Diamondbacks' Nolan Arenado as he tries to scroe on a hit by Ildemaro Vargas in the second inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 15, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Arizona Diamondbacks' Ryan Waldschmidt connects for a single to drive in two runs off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland in the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 15, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Arizona Diamondbacks' Ryan Waldschmidt connects for a single to drive in two runs off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland in the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 15, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)