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Diamondbacks player Merrill Kelly leaves game against Rangers due to cramps

PHOENIX – Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly left the mound with cramping in his right thigh during the fifth inning of Wednesday's 14-4 win over the Texas Rangers at Chase Field.

Kelly stomped around the mound and shook out his right leg before walking to the team bench with athletic trainer Max Esposito.

The veteran paced the dugout while reliever Slade Cecconi warmed up and Arizona led 8-2 with no outs in the fifth frame.

Kelly was battling right thigh cramps while pitching at Chase Field this time last season, ending three straight home games early. The problem isn't expected to affect his next start, including next week in high-altitude Colorado against the Rockies.

“When I heard he was cramping, it was a no-brainer for me to take him out of the game,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “It's one of those things that happens from time to time with our athletes. But in my opinion, it's not going to hinder him in any way in five days. I think his turn will come.”

Kelly was frustrated that this was happening again and felt like he was “banging his head against the wall.” The club solved this problem last season by looking at hydration and nutrition strategies and Kelly said his routine has not changed or gone any differently from what had worked.

“It seems fine for a while, and then all of a sudden it hits me out of nowhere,” Kelly said. “I didn't feel anything today before warming up with the pitch or the innings before that, no signs, no symptoms. All of a sudden I throw the pitch and before you know it, I'm out of the game.”

The announced temperature at the first pitch was 78 degrees.

Lovullo said it was warmer on the field, but it didn't feel particularly uncomfortable on Wednesday. Kelly said the temperature was hard to gauge since he was injured most of this season, but he sweats a lot and has already changed a jersey.

Kelly said it was especially frustrating because he felt strong on the mound.

How did Merrill Kelly pitch before he was injured?

Wednesday was Kelly's sixth start after returning from the 60-day injured list after missing more than three months with a strained teres major muscle.

He threw four innings with two earned runs on four hits until the fifth, which he began with a lead-off walk to Leody Taveras. He threw three pitches to Marcus Semien before entering the game because of an injury.

Kelly allowed only one hit in the first three innings, a solo home run by Semien.

“I feel like my rhythm and timing are slowly coming back,” Kelly said. “The ball is coming out of my hand a lot better. (The velocity) is back to normal, like it was before the injury. The ball was lively. Curveball was good, slider was good, cutter was good, pretty much everything. I think when I look back on that game with 12 strikeouts, that's one of the most frustrating moments when I'm playing well and feeling good and then nothing's going right.”

Kelly left two starts last season after striking out 12 batters.

In his last start, Kelly threw seven frames with two earned runs against the San Francisco Giants as he continues to regain his feel.

Lovullo has said he wants Zac Gallen and Kelly to push the pitchers down the stretch. In Wednesday's blowout win, Kelly's absence wasn't as noticeable as it would have been in a closer game, and in the hunt for a championship, Kelly losing a few innings at home could make a difference.

“I'm not going to downplay it and say there are no concerns. Of course there are, but I know we're doing everything we can,” Lovullo said. “I don't want to say I'm going to drop the ball and say, 'Oh, the Merrill situation is happening again.' We need to figure out how to make sure it doesn't happen again.”

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