Diamondbacks’ Zac Gallen, bullpen silence Brewers to pick up series win

PHOENIX — The Brewers took a 2-0 lead in the first inning off Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen, but Arizona’s pitching staff held Milwaukee in check for the rest of a 5-2 win Sunday at Chase Field.

With ample opportunities, the Diamondbacks’ offense broke through after a slow start, tying the game on a Tim Tawa sacrifice fly in the sixth inning. Josh Naylor provided the lead with an RBI single in the seventh, and Alek Thomas broke the game open with a two-run single in the eighth.

Well, if it isn't the consequences of their own actions. pic.twitter.com/xH9yofmvcE

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) April 13, 2025

Arizona’s bullpen continued its excellent start to the season, finishing off a series victory and 4-2 homestand.

“ I’m proud of this team,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “They’re very persistent and they’re very hungry. And even though we aren’t playing our best baseball, we’re getting very close.”

Gallen provided a fifth straight quality start with six innings and two earned runs, as he settled in after a rocky first frame. From there, Jalen Beeks, Justin Martinez and A.J. Puk each threw a scoreless inning, with Puk securing the save.

Arizona’s bullpen entered Sunday with a 3.48 ERA and league-leading 0.85 WHIP.

“We have eight guys down there who could throw leverage innings at any point,” Gallen said. “It’s really good to be able to get six innings and hand the ball over to the horses down there. It makes our job a lot easier. Takes a little bit of pressure off the offense too.”

The Brewers jumped on Gallen with two runs in the first inning on a William Contreras home run that just snuck over the wall in left field. Gallen allowed three hits in the first frame, and from there Milwaukee only recorded two more knocks off him through the sixth.

Gallen struck out five hitters and found success with the changeup, drawing four whiffs on 10 swings.

Gallen allowed five runs in a loss on Monday to the Baltimore Orioles after a 6.2-inning gem at Yankee Stadium. Sunday was a nice bounce back as he looks for better consistency.

“I’m always trying to give the team length,” Gallen said. “Doesn’t necessarily change my approach whether we need it or not. I just try to keep us in it, try to give us a chance to win.”

Zac Gallen's 4th and 5th Ks pic.twitter.com/earQogUvOp

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 13, 2025

Milwaukee starter Freddy Peralta entered Sunday with a career 0.84 ERA against the Diamondbacks in 21.1 innings, and he held them scoreless until a wild pitch in the fifth.

Arizona’s offense started to build innings late into Peralta’s start, and the right-hander exited with the bases loaded and a 2-1 lead in the sixth. Tawa delivered the game-tying sacrifice fly off reliever Nick Mears.

Corbin Carroll started the rally in the seventh with a single, moved to second on a balk and advanced to third on a Geraldo Perdomo sac bunt. Carroll has reached base in all 16 games this season.

Milwaukee intentionally walked Randal Grichuk to face Naylor with lefty Bryan Hudson. Naylor attacked a fastball and pushed it up the middle.

“The one thing I can say is this team is very determined and we’re moving in the right direction,” Lovullo said. “The players are making that happen. They’re going out there and doing their job.

“We got 14 baserunners today, half of which got on via the walk and we just seemed to chip away.”

Arizona now owns seven comeback wins this season.

The Diamondbacks stared a series loss in the face on Saturday while trailing 4-0 with one out in the ninth inning, but they rallied to steal a victory on a walk-off sacrifice fly by Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Arizona gets Monday off and will resume on Tuesday at the Miami Marlins. The D-backs will play three in Miami to begin a six-game road trip. The D-backs will play the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field over the weekend.

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