Herrera’s First Career Home Run, Kelly’s Strong Start Propel D-backs to 5-0 Win Over Brewers, Series Victory
The Arizona Diamondbacks secured a 5-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field, clinching the series. Catcher José Herrera had a standout performance, smashing his first career home run in the fifth inning and guiding a shutout behind the plate. The victory drops Arizona’s magic number to clinch a postseason spot to just four, as both the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets won their games.
“It’s special, all the hard work has paid off,” Herrera shared in his postgame interview on DbacksTV. “But it’s always about winning. Everything I do is to help the team.”
Herrera, who’s been with the Diamondbacks since 2023, hit his milestone home run in his 350th career plate appearance off Brewers starter Aaron Civale. “I was looking for something in the zone, and when I made contact, I knew it had a chance,” he said. His teammates celebrated the moment with hugs in the dugout.
Arizona struck early, with Ketel Marte singling in the first inning before Joc Pederson launched a two-run homer. Merrill Kelly, who entered with a 2-0 lead, pitched five shutout innings, allowing just two hits before leaving due to cramping in his right calf. Despite his early exit, the bullpen trio of Joe Mantiply, Kevin Ginkel, and A.J. Puk delivered four perfect innings, sealing the shutout. Marte added a ninth-inning solo home run to cap the win.
Manager Torey Lovullo expressed caution about Kelly’s calf, saying, “I didn’t want to risk it. We’ve got a lot of baseball left to play.”
With this win, the Diamondbacks move closer to securing a postseason spot and continue to show resilience as the season nears its end.