PHOENIX, Sep. 1 \u2014 Merrill Kelly scattered four hits across seven scoreless innings, striking out seven while walking none, and Caleb Smith pitched two perfect innings of relief, striking out four of six, as the Arizona Diamondbacks<\/a> blanked the Milwaukee Brewers<\/a>, 5\u20130, Thursday night. In the victory, the tandem of Kelly and Smith only allowed one runner to even reach second base. The Diamondbacks smacked 10 hits, eight off Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff, to give Kelly all the run support he needed. Seven of the nine Diamondbacks hitters had at least one hit, with Josh Rojas, Christian Walker, and Geraldo Perdomo notching two hits each. The victory gave the Diamondbacks sole possession of third place in the National League West, something that has not happened in September since 2019, when they were in second.<\/p>\n Woodruff struggled early, and the Diamondbacks capitalized. After second baseman Ketel Marte ripped a two-out double down the right-field line, Walker \u2014 the first baseman \u2014 stepped to the plate. On 0\u20131, Woodruff hung a curveball right down the middle, and Walker made him pay. Walker belted his 31st home run of the season, a 406-foot drive to the left-field bleachers. One inning later, center fielder Alek Thomas began another two-out rally with a sharp double to the left-field corner. Perdomo \u2014 the shortstop \u2014 plated him with a single to left and advanced himself to scoring position with a stolen base. Rojas \u2014 the third baseman \u2014 reached on a Baltimore chop, putting runners on the corners with two out. Designated hitter Jake McCarthy loaded the bases upon being hit by a pitch before Marte struck out looking, ending the inning.<\/p>\nDiamondbacks Take Commanding Lead over Brewers<\/h3>\n