Zac Gallen has shortest start of his career in D-backs’ loss to Phillies

Jun 10, 2022, 5:34 PM | Updated: 8:02 pm

Zac Gallen #23 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on June 10, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

BY JAKE ANDERSON

Arizona Sports

It was a rough day at the office for Arizona Diamondbacks (28-32) starting pitcher Zac Gallen in a 7-5 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies (29-29) on Friday.

Gallen had the shortest start of his career, a 1.2-inning outing in which he allowed six runs (four earned) on seven hits (two home runs) and one walk while striking out on 66 pitches (43 strikes).

After allowing a solo home run to Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins in the bottom of the first inning, a five-run second frame from Philadelphia forced D-backs manager Torey Lovullo to bring right-hander Edwin Uceta in for relief of Gallen.

However, only three of those second-inning runs were earned due to an error committed by Diamondbacks All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte.

With Arizona only trailing 1-0 and runners on first and second with one out, Phillies catcher Garrett Stubbs hit a tailor-made double-play ball to Marte that would have ended the inning.

But unfortunately for the D-backs, the ball booted off Marte’s glove and into the outfield to bring home a run. The very next batter, Kyle Schwarber, then emptied the bases with a three-run blast to right center field.

Philadelphia was able to produce another run off Gallen to make it 6-0 Phillies before Lovullo decided to go to the bullpen.

The right-hander came into the ballgame with a 4-1 record to go along with a 2.40 ERA and 0.959 WHIP.

Arizona managed to make it a game with a four-run seventh inning thanks to a pair of two-RBI doubles on back-to-back at-bats from Daulton Varsho and Josh Rojas.

Varsho just missed a grand slam by hitting the top of the right field wall which would’ve been his second home run of the night after hitting a solo blast in the top of the sixth.