PHOENIX -- This is the Merrill Kelly the Diamondbacks are used to seeing.
Kelly dominated the Mets through seven innings as Arizona evened the three-game series at a game apiece with a 2-1 win Saturday night at Chase Field.
Kelly opened the season on the injured list due to a nerve irritation in his back and after an impressive performance in his first start back against the Orioles on April 14, he pitched to a 12.51 ERA over his next three starts.
But on Saturday, Kelly pitched like the man who earned the moniker "Merrill the Mainstay" for his consistency and durability. The 37-year-old scattered three hits and allowed just one run over seven innings.
The Diamondbacks got a two-run single from Ildemaro Vargas in the third, and that proved to be all they needed as Kelly, Taylor Clarke and Paul Sewald combined to hold the Mets to just one run -- a two-out RBI double by Brett Baty in the second.