Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly was enjoying an excellent outing in NLCS Game 6 against the Phillies before manager Torey Lovullo opted to pull the plug on the right-hander ahead of the sixth inning.
Kelly had surrendered just one run across five innings of work, but Lovullo decided to roll with Ryan Thompson in the sixth inning, much to the disdain of his starter.
Kelly looked to be fuming in the dugout after Lovullo informed him his night was over, seemingly failing to comprehend why his manager would pull him after five strong innings and just 82 pitches.
Merrill Kelly doesn't want any handshakes. pic.twitter.com/NIdoOcVf1C
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 23, 2023
Upon returning to the dugout and finding out he was to be relieved, Kelly looked frustrated and appeared to plead his case with Lovullo before turning and walking away, not returning any of the high-fives and handshakes his teammates had extended.
Kelly had eight strikeouts on Monday night and he’d managed to hold Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, and Bryce Harper without a hit. Clearly confident about his chances of going through the order for a third time, the 35-year-old couldn’t hide his distaste for his manager’s decision to turn to the bullpen after just five innings of work.
