Ildemaro Vargas had a two-run single, Merrill Kelly delivered his most effective start of the season and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the New York Mets 2-1 to even the three-game series in Phoenix on Saturday.

Kelly (2-3) gave up one run on three hits in seven innings in his fifth start since returning from an early-season back injury, with six strikeouts and three walks. He had given up 19 runs in 13 2/3 innings in his previous three starts.

Vargas’ bases-loaded single off Clay Holmes (4-3) in the third followed two-out singles by Corbin Carroll and Geraldo Perdomo and a walk to Adrian Del Castillo, giving Kelly the only support he would need.

Vargas has hit safely in 29 of 31 games this season and is hitting .350, second in the major leagues to Miami’s Otto Lopez (.353). Vargas’ season-opening 24-game hitting streak, a franchise record, was stopped May 2.

The Mets (15-24) are one-half game ahead of the Los Angeles Angels (15-25) for the worst record in the majors. They had won four of five.

The Diamondbacks had lost 12 of 16 since going a season-high five games over .500 at 13-8 on April 18. They have not won a series since.

The Mets had three hits, none after Tyrone Taylor’s two-out double in the fifth.

Kelly retired the final seven he faced. Taylor Clarke pitched a 1-2-3 eighth and Paul Sewald struck out two in a perfect ninth for his eighth save.

The Mets scored off Kelly for a 1-0 lead in the second, when Marcus Semien hit a two-out single and scored on Brett Baty’s double to right-center.

The Mets only hit after that was Taylor’s double inside the bag at third with two outs in the fifth. Kelly intentionally walked Juan Soto after reaching a 2-0 count before Bo Bichette flew out to end the inning. Soto was the last Met to reach base.

Holmes (4-3) gave up two runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings, leaving after Nolan Arenado’s two-out single in the sixth. He tied a season high with six strikeouts and walked two.

–Field Level Media