Zac Gallen blanks Tigers in return to Chase Field, Diamondbacks complete sweep

PHOENIX — Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen delivered six scoreless innings on Wednesday against the Detroit Tigers at Chase Field, and Arizona maintained the shutout to sweep the series with a 1-0 win.

Gallen had to work with a slim lead all day, as he was entrenched in a pitcher’s duel with Tigers ace and two-time American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, leading to a two-hour and 10-minute game.

Arizona took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a Corbin Carroll solo home run, but Skubal locked it down from there with the help of three double plays. Skubal tossed seven innings of one-run ball in his return to his home state (Kingman native).

But, Detroit only scored runs in two innings during the entire series.

D-backs relievers Taylor Clarke, Juan Morillo and Jonathan Loaisiga kept the Tigers off the board after Gallen was done, with Loaisiga earning his first save with the club after Paul Sewald pitched the previous two games.

“I think just two guys, two pitching staffs that were just in the strike zone, just making the hitters make a decision, trying to put the ball in play,” Gallen said.

Overall, Diamondbacks starters allowed five runs in 17 innings during the series, while the bullpen threw eight straight shutout frames after a brutal seventh inning in the opener.

For manager Torey Lovullo, Wednesday’s showcase of pitching and defense was a sight for sore eyes.

“If you’re a baseball purist, you’ve got to love this type of game,” Lovullo said. “You’ve got two elite starting pitchers that are just going toe-to-toe with one another.” 

Zac Gallen stellar in return to Chase Field

Gallen pounded the strike zone on Wednesday, only striking out two batters but with no walks. His defense made plays behind him, and Gallen was able to get through six frames with 88 pitches (58 strikes) despite throwing 26 in the fifth inning.

Gallen was terrific through four innings on Opening Day at Dodger Stadium last Thursday, but the fifth got away from him with four runs coming across. This time, he was able to get out of trouble late even when fatigue became a factor.

The Tigers had the tying run on third base with one out in the sixth inning, and Gleyber Torres hit a line drive to the right side. Gallen thought he had given up a hit, but first baseman Jose Fernandez, after his historic MLB debut on Tuesday, snagged the liner and threw a strike to third base to double off the runner and end the inning.

we like Jose Fernandez
april fools!
we love him pic.twitter.com/FTeUlSvd6D

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) April 1, 2026

Lovullo said Torres was going to be Gallen’s final hitter no matter what.

“I think it’s nice having a really good athlete in Fernandez over there at first base to be able to make that play and then throw it to third,” Gallen said. “So he’s making a pretty good impression for a couple days being here. I’m excited for him.”

The Tigers nearly tied the game in the third, as a Colt Keith fly ball landed on the yellow padding on the right-field fence and bounced back in. Keith nearly hit a home run off Michael Soroka on Monday, but in both cases, the starting pitcher stranded him on base.

Wednesday was Gallen’s first outing back at Chase Field since he re-signed with the Diamondbacks this offseason.

Gallen has been a Diamondback since 2019 and had been vocal about being interested in coming back. The veteran remained unsigned as spring training began after a down 2025 season, and he eventually came back on a one-year deal to try his luck again next winter.

With Merrill Kelly on the injured list, Gallen started on Opening Day, and his ability to bounce back this year will be important for the stability of Arizona’s rotation, especially with Corbin Burnes eyeing a midseason return from elbow surgery.

Diamondbacks starters have gone at least five innings with no earned runs in three of the last four games.

“I’m not surprised,” Lovullo said. “I’ve been seeing a different version of Zac with his preparation, with his attitude and his focus, so I’m really happy for him.”

Additionally, Gallen delivered the 33rd game of his D-backs tenure with at least six shutout innings, the second most in franchise history behind Randy Johnson’s 44.

Diamondbacks respond after Dodgers series

To bounce back after getting swept by the Dodgers in a series the D-backs felt should have fared differently and was an encouraging sign for Lovullo and his players.

“It’s huge,” Carroll said. “I think everyone was kind of on the same page of we played some good games there and we’ll be ready to go. And I thought we did a good job.”

The Diamondbacks welcome the Atlanta Braves to Chase Field on Thursday to begin a four-game series.

Related

Diamondbacks' lineup vs. Tigers rewards Alek Thomas, Nolan Arenado gets day offDiamondbacks get in win column with nearly dominant performance vs. TigersMichael Soroka throws immaculate inning in dazzling Diamondbacks debutDiamondbacks' new ribbon boards causing problems for fans on Opening DayDiamondbacks C Gabriel Moreno scratched on Monday to attend birth of his childDiamondbacks did not get all they wanted at trade deadline: ‘I wish we were able to do more’