Diamondbacks escape being no-hit, but lose Carson Kelly to injury in loss to Dodgers

Jun 3, 2021; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Carson Kelly (18) hits a two run homer in the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

 (Photo: Benny Sieu, Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports)

Simply losing was not quite brutal enough for the Diamondbacks on Saturday night — nor was losing while flirting with a being no-hit. Their 9-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers also included a crushing injury.

In another blow to a club that already owns the worst record in the majors, catcher Carson Kelly was hit by a pitch and suffered a fractured his right wrist on Saturday night at Chase Field.

Kelly’s timetable is not yet clear, but fractures typically cost players at least six to eight weeks. He said he is scheduled to undergo further imaging on Sunday and likely will visit with hand specialist Dr. Don Sheridan.

Facing Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler in the second inning, Kelly was struck on the wrist by a 96 mph fastball. He remained in the game, running the bases to finish the half-inning and then going back out to catch the top of the third.

However, he was in noticeable discomfort behind the plate, appearing to wince while trying to pump fake a throw. He exited the game before the top of fourth inning began, with backup Stephen Vogt taking his place.

“I toughed it out for that inning,” Kelly said. “I was throwing the ball back and that was OK. I tried to really gear it up to throw and that did not feel good at all. It sucks. That’s the best way to sum it up.”

It is unclear what the Diamondbacks will do to replace him, but it could open the door to regular playing time for prospect Daulton Varsho, who has been crushing the ball since being sent down to Triple-A Reno in late May.

Varsho entered Saturday with home runs in six of his past seven games for Reno. He had a .313/.368/.750 line in 87 plate appearances in Triple-A. He has yet to find his footing at the major league level. In 159 plate appearances over parts of two seasons, he owns just a .183/.270/.331 line.

If the club wanted to go with a more established, defense-first catcher, it has another option in veteran Bryan Holaday. Holaday, 33, also is posting good numbers at the plate in Triple-A, with a .296/350/.577 line in 80 plate appearances. He is a career .238 hitter in parts of nine seasons in the majors.

The loss was the Diamondbacks’ 16th in a row, extending a franchise record. They have lost 30 out of 32 and are 5-39 over their past 44 games. At 20-52, they are a whopping 20 1/2 games out of first place in the National League West.

Buehler fired seven innings of no-hit ball before surrendering a single to David Peralta to lead off the eighth. Buehler departed two batters later, leaving to a thunderous ovation from the massive pro-Dodgers crowd.

“We missed some pitches, some very hittable pitches in the zone, and walked into a potential no-hitter through seven,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said, adding that Buehler was featuring a lively fastball/cutter combo.

It was the fourth time this season the Diamondbacks have been no-hit through at least six innings. Rockies right-hander Jon Gray (April 8), Cardinals right-hander Carlos Martinez (May 27) and Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta (June 4) also flirted with no-hitters against the Diamondbacks this season.

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Reach Piecoro at (602) 444-8680 or nick.piecoro@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickpiecoro.