Diamondbacks reach halfway point with same record as 2025 after loss to Rays

The Arizona Diamondbacks have reached the midway point of their schedule, and with a lackluster 6-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, they finished the opening 81 games with a 41-40 record.

It is the same record they fielded at this point a season ago, better than 2024 (39-42) and nowhere near as promising as 2023 (48-33).

Friday’s loss was an assortment of shortcomings from this year’s team, particularly of late, from an ugly Zac Gallen stat line to troubles hitting with runners in scoring position.

Gallen retired 15 hitters in a row at one point, one of his most effective stretches of the season, but his bookends marred the outing. It ended with 6.2 innings and five earned runs. His league-worst ERA went up to 6.15.

A walk and a hit-by-pitch put Gallen in trouble to start the game, and what looked like a clutch third strike to slugger Junior Caminero was called a ball with no challenge. Caminero crushed the next pitch over the wall, 437 feet.

That’s when Gallen’s hitless run took off. He kept the score tight and recorded an out in the seventh inning for the first time this season, but the Rays hammered him at the end of his start to pile onto their lead. Cedric Mullins took him deep in the seventh.

Gallen finished with one whiff and no strikeouts. The right-hander is the first pitcher since 2024 with at least 6.2 innings and not a single strikeout. No Diamondbacks pitcher had done so since Livan Hernandez in 2007, per Stathead.

Gallen received no run support, as the D-backs trailed this game from the bottom of the first inning until the final out.

The offense started strong with a Geraldo Perdomo home run, followed by a Corbin Carroll triple. Carroll broke the franchise record for triples with the 53rd of his career, but the D-backs stranded him on third base.

Arizona went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position after the lineup went off on Wednesday against the St. Louis Cardinals for a 9-4 win.

The Rays’ defense played a factor, as it was fantastic to frustrate the D-backs.

The Diamondbacks have not played well at Tropicana Field over the years, having been swept in the ballpark in 2024 and losing two of three in 2019.

Saturday’s starter

The Diamondbacks will start pitching prospect Jose Cabrera for his second MLB appearance on Saturday.

The game will start at 3:10 p.m. MST on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app. 

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