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Ketel Marte homered in the first inning, Merrill Kelly pitched seven scoreless innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks deprived the Colorado Rockies of their first series win of the season with a 1-0 victory in Phoenix on Sunday.

Marte went deep as the second batter of the D-backs’ first and Kelly (5-2) gave up only one hit while striking out 11, one short of his career high.

Kelly took a no-hitter into the sixth before Rockies’ leadoff hitter Jordan Beck grounded a double inside the bag at third on Kelly’s 83rd pitch to break it up. Kelly walked three and threw a season-high 109 pitches.

Colorado threatened in the ninth inning, when Kyle Farmer singled off Shelby Miller with one out and Hunter Goodman hit a sinking liner to right field that got past diving right fielder Corbin Carroll for a double.

Ryan McMahon was intentionally walked to load the bases, but Brenton Doyle popped out and Michael Toglia lined out to shortstop. Miller earned his fourth save in six chances.

Marte had two hits and a walk and the D-backs evened their home record at 13-13 entering a three-game series at the Los Angeles Dodgers that begins Monday.

The game stood in stark contrast to the Rockies’ 14-12 victory Saturday, when the teams combined for seven homers and 34 hits in Colorado interim manager Warren Schaeffer’s first win.

The Rockies fell to 8-38, the worst start in the modern era (since 1901). The 1904 Washington Senators, the 1932 Boston Red Sox and the 1988 Baltimore Orioles all were 9-37.

The Rockies, who lost the series opener 8-0 Friday, have not won or split any of their 15 series. They have been shut out six times.

Kelly has given up four runs in his last three starts (20 1/3 IP) after being forced to leave a May 2 start at Philadelphia because of cramping in his right hamstring.

Rockies’ starter Chase Dollander (2-5) gave up one run and three hits before being removed with two outs in the fifth after reaching 98 pitches. He struck out six and walked two.

–Field Level Media