OAKLAND – Through seven innings, it would be hard to pitch any better than Merrill Kelly did on Monday night.

The D-backs' right-hander allowed just a pair of singles and an unearned run through seven frames, and at 88 pitches, he had a complete game on his mind.

But things got a little dicey in the eighth, culminating in Kelly’s first career ejection. Still, the 34-year-old held on to win his third straight decision as Arizona took the series opener from the A's, 5-2.

Kelly (4-3) was charged with two runs (one earned) on four hits in 7-plus innings, striking out nine and walking one to lead Arizona to its fourth straight win.

“Tonight was probably the most in control of my delivery, rhythm, everything that I’ve felt all year,” Kelly said.

After dominating for most of the night, Kelly allowed a home run to Oakland’s Jace Peterson on the first pitch of the eighth inning, followed by his first walk of the game, which was aided by a questionable call.

Kelly appeared to get Jordan Díaz to offer at strike three, but first-base umpire Brock Ballou ruled it no swing. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo was ejected for arguing the call and Kelly followed soon after when he had already been pulled from the game.

“It was my first ejection ever,” Kelly said. “I don’t think I’ve ever gotten thrown out of a game in my whole life. But I just felt like that was a terrible call. I thought it was a very, very obvious swing. I’ve seen the video of it and, in my mind, it was a very obvious swing.”

Fortunately for Kelly and the D-backs, Miguel Castro and Andrew Chafin shut the door in the last two innings, with Chafin earning his sixth save.

Geraldo Perdomo and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. provided most of the offense with two-run homers early in the game and Arizona (24-18) went six games above .500 for the first time since 2019.

“It was a good game,” Kelly said. “We got a good win. So that’s really all that matters.”

Kelly improved to 3-0 with a 2.42 ERA over his past four starts, and once again, his changeup was his best weapon. He threw 24 changeups in all, 19 for strikes, including eight of the swing-and-miss variety.

A’s hitters finished the night 0-for-8 with five strikeouts against Kelly’s change.

“That’s the pitch I like throwing the most,” he said. “When it’s working, when it’s dancing, it’s a fun pitch to throw. Tonight was really good.”

Added Lovullo on what impressed him: “Fastball command and then I thought a really, really nasty changeup. It was anywhere from 88-90 miles an hour with a lot of depth.”

That command was apparent with Kelly throwing 70 strikes and only 27 balls, including 21 first-pitch strikes out of 27 batters. He allowed just one exit velocity over 100 mph all night.

“I think when he establishes his fastball and he gets the hitters in swing mode, he becomes very, very effective to both lefties and righties,” Lovullo said.

Kelly lowered his season ERA to 2.92, 10th-best in the National League. His 55 strikeouts rank seventh.

“He did a great job,” Lovullo praised. “Games look good when a starting pitcher does his job.”