Merrill Kelly strikes out a season-high 11, Diamondbacks edge Rockies 1-0 for series win

PHOENIX (AP) — Merrill Kelly struck out a season-high 11 while giving up one hit over seven innings, Ketel Marte homered and the Arizona Diamondbacks edged the Colorado Rockies 1-0 on Sunday.

The D-backs took two of three games over the weekend, denying the Rockies their first series win this season. Colorado fell to 8-38, the worst start for a big league team through 46 games since 1901.

Colorado threatened in the ninth when Kyle Farmer hit a one-out single and Hunter Goodman doubled. Ryan McMahon was intentionally walked, Shelby Miller coaxed a popup from Brenton Doyle and Michael Toglia hit a game-ending lineout to shortstop Geraldo Perdomo.

The hard-fought pitcher's duel came one night after the Rockies won a 14-12 slugfest.

Kelly (5-2) didn’t allow a hit until the sixth, when Jordan Beck’s hard grounder down the third-base line got past Eugenio Suárez for a double. The 36-year-old has given up one run or none in five of his past seven starts.

Marte homered to right in the first, his sixth long ball of the season. He reached base three times and had two hits.

Rockies rookie right-hander Chase Dollander (2-5) gave up three hits and two walks through 4 2/3 innings, striking out six.

Kelly fielded a comebacker in the sixth and trapped Beck in a rundown, tagging him for the first out. It helped squash one of the Rockies' scoring opportunities.

Kelly has give up just nine earned runs over his past seven starts, spanning 43 innings.

LHP Kyle Freeland (0-6, 6.15 ERA) will throw for the Rockies against LHP Cristopher Sanchez (4-1, 2.91) and the Phillies on Monday in Denver.

RHP Brandon Pfaadt (6-3, 3.73 ERA) will pitch for the D-backs against RHP Landon Knack (2-1, 5.89) and the Dodgers on Monday in Los Angeles.

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

Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte, left, celebrates his home run as Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman pauses at home plate during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Eugenio Suárez reacts to striking out against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Chase Dollander (32) walks off the pitcher's mound after giving up a home run to Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte, left, during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Chase Dollander warms up during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly warms up prior to a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s motorcade took a different route than usual to the airport as he was departing Florida on Sunday due to a “suspicious object,” according to the White House.

The object, which the White House did not describe, was discovered during security sweeps in advance of Trump’s arrival at Palm Beach International Airport.

“A further investigation was warranted and the presidential motorcade route was adjusted accordingly,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement Sunday.

The president, when asked about the package by reporters, said, “I know nothing about it.”

Trump left his Palm Beach, Florida, club, Mar-a-Lago, around 6:20 p.m. for the roughly 10-minute drive to the airport, but took a circular route around the city to get there.

During the drive, police officers on motorcycles created a moving blockade for the motorcade, at one point almost colliding with the vans that accompanied Trump.

Air Force One was parked on the opposite side of the airport from where it is usually located and the lights outside the plane were turned off.

Anthony Guglielmi, the spokesman for U.S. Secret Service, said the secondary route was taken just as a precaution and that “that is standard protocol.”

President Donald Trump departs Trump International Golf Club in the presidential limousine, known as The Beast, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)