D-backs P Zac Gallen roughed up vs. Giants in 1st start back from IL
Jun 17, 2021, 2:06 PM | Updated: 3:41 pm
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen works in the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Thursday, June 17, 2021, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
(AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen entered Thursday’s start against the San Francisco Giants having not played since May 7.
Despite the long layoff, Gallen appeared to settle in quickly, using a nine-pitch first inning to retire the side.
Then the second inning happened.
A seven-pitch walk to Wilmer Flores started off Gallen’s downfall in the frame before Curt Casali put the Giants on top with a one-out, two-run shot to left field just two batters later.
The homer was followed up by a Steven Duggar triple. Two pitches later, Duggar would score off of a Mauricio Dubon RBI single to make it 3-0, Giants.
Gallen was able to limit the damage with a strikeout of Kevin Gausman, but hit LaMonte Wade Jr in the following plate appearance.
Donovan Solano marked the final out of the inning, taking four pitches before fouling out to right field.
The pitcher would hang in for a third inning, securing a single at the plate.
He wouldn’t last much longer than that, however, as he allowed another run in the bottom half of the inning before exiting with two outs.
All told, Gallen threw 58 pitches (35 strikes), allowing four earned runs on four hits and a walk. He stuck out three.
Entering play Thursday, Gallen sported a 2-3 record to go along with a 3.04 ERA over five starts.
In place of Gallen in the third was reliever Riley Smith.
While Smith lasted longer than Gallen, going 4.1 innings, he too allowed four earned runs as the D-backs fell 10-3 to the Giants.
With the defeat, the D-backs set a new MLB record for consecutive road losses with 23, surpassing the 1963 New York Mets and the 1943 Philadelphia Athletics.
