Zac Gallen struggles in 6th, offense remains flat as D-backs fall to Giants

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen left Monday’s game in San Francisco with a four in the runs allowed column, something he hadn’t experienced so far in the big leagues.

Gallen prior to Monday’s outing had gone 23 starts to begin his major league career without allowing more than three runs, an MLB record.

As has been the case all season long, the D-backs offense couldn’t back Gallen as the team fell to the Giants, 4-2.

The 25-year-old righty appeared well on his way to padding his record, that was until the sixth inning began.

Gallen held the Giants scoreless through five innings, at one point retiring 14 straight batters.

He then allowing four hits, a walk and three runs without recording an out in the sixth inning.

Gallen left the game with the bases loaded and nobody out as reliever Junior Guerra came in and walked Giants’ first baseman Brandon Belt to bring across the fourth run that was charged to Gallen.

The damage to Gallen’s line would remain at four runs as Guerra induced a double play and a fly out to conclude the inning.

“It was one of those situations where he was making pitches early and I think he just made some mistakes out over the plate and they took advantage of it,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said in a Zoom call with the media after the game.

“We’re spoiled by Zac (Gallen) and this is just one situation where he is human.”

While it took a while before the Giants eventually figured out Gallen, the Diamondbacks never solved Giants pitcher Kevin Gausman.

Gausman tossed six innings allowing two hits and one run while striking out nine and walking three.

The D-backs couldn’t get to the Giants bullpen either, as four pitchers combined to hold the team to one run, a David Peralta home run in the ninth inning, over the final three innings.

Arizona’s best chance to score came in the third inning when they loaded the bases on two walks and a single, but only came away with one run on an RBI fielder’s choice from Ketel Marte.

The D-backs also couldn’t take advantage of a scoring opportunity in the eighth inning when they had runners at second and third with two outs.

The loss is the team’s 16th in their last 18 games as they fall to 15-27 on the year with 18 more games remaining.

BASE HITS

– Infielder Wyatt Mathisen made his MLB debut on Monday night for the D-backs going 0-4 with two strikeouts.

– Lovullo said pitcher Caleb Smith, who was acquired in the trade with the Miami Marlins for Starling Marte, threw three innings and 50 pitches at Chase Field on Sunday. Lovullo said Smith’s pitch count and endurance needs to be built up before joining the team.