Zac Gallen extends scoreless streak to 34.1 innings, D-backs rookies bat in 12

PHOENIX — The future of the Arizona Diamondbacks may be closer than it appears.

Four D-backs rookies accounted for all 12 RBIs, setting a franchise record, in Arizona’s 12-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies at Chase Field on Tuesday night. The fifth straight win wasn’t just about the young bats, as starting pitcher Zac Gallen continued rolling, adding seven frames to a scoreless streak that now ranks second in Arizona franchise history at 34.1 innings.

The Diamondbacks (61-67) owe Phoenix Suns wing Mikal Bridges an apology for ruining the Philadelphia fan’s appreciation day and birthday, with 22 unanswered runs over his beloved Phillies (72-58) going back to Monday night’s 13-7 franchise-record comeback win.

Arizona DH Jake McCarthy (five), LF Corbin Carroll (three), CF Alek Thomas (two) and SS Geraldo Perdomo (two) were the four rookies to combine for the 12 ribbies, with McCarthy getting No. 3-5 on this three-run blast to right field:

All eight #Dbacks runs thus far have come off the bat of a rookie:

Corbin Carroll: 1 RBI
Alek Thomas: 1 RBI
Geraldo Perdomo: 1 RBI
Jake McCarthy: 5 RBIspic.twitter.com/82tws2NgE1 https://t.co/wvmWJ6wYS8

— Jake Anderson (@jwa1994) August 31, 2022

“We’ve known for a long time that these players were on their way,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “Me in particular, just paying a lot of attention to game reports, having conversations with their managers and then them directly. We’ve known that this group was on the move through our system and their arrival is here and they’re making the most of their opportunity.”

Arizona collected a season-high 17 hits in the game.

The speed of McCarthy, Carroll and Thomas was fully on display, causing the Phillies to make two throwing errors while rushing to get the speedsters out. McCarthy’s first two RBIs came on a triple while Carroll topped out at nearly 31 feet per second to score his first run of the game on a Thomas RBI double — his first RBI of the contest.

Carroll also just missed his first big league home run on a two-RBI double off the center field wall, which would have gone out in every single MLB ballpark except Chase Field, per Would it dong?.

His five RBIs in his first two career games are the most in D-backs history, according to D-backs facts & stats.

This is just getting ridiculous now#Dbacks pic.twitter.com/G83NzXnITf https://t.co/BorJqqwObV

— Jake Anderson (@jwa1994) August 31, 2022

“It’s fun to watch. We have tremendous athletes out there that have been mastering these baseball concepts honing their baseball skills in player development and we’re coming out here and playing a very aggressive brand of baseball,” Lovullo said. “We need to continue doing that.

“Does it surprise me? No, it doesn’t surprise me. These are good baseball players, but we have to continue growing and learning every single day.”

The eight earned runs on 10 hits off Philadelphia starter Aaron Nola in 4.0 innings were the most the right-hander has ever given up in his 197 career starts, per D-backs facts & stats. The Phillies are also now 2-12 in their last 14 ballgames at Chase Field.

While the rookies were providing more than enough run support, Gallen extended his scoreless innings streak to 34.1. He now sits in second place behind Brandon Webb’s 42.0 for the longest consecutive innings scoreless streak in franchise history, with the Major League record of 59.0 belonging to Orel Hershiser in 1988.

Despite not “feeling super comfortable,” Gallen finished the night allowing only three baserunners — none of which reached scoring position — on two hits and one walk while striking out seven over 7.0 innings pitched across 88 pitches (54 strikes). The right-hander could have gone out for another frame to try to set a career-high of eight innings pitched, but manager Torey Lovullo elected to get some work in for Noe Ramirez and Mark Melancon.

“I don’t think I’ll ever put somebody in a situation where I’ll risk their health — put one person ahead of the team,” Lovullo said. “That’s always been something that I’ve felt very strongly about. … I want Zac to throw (complete games), I want everybody to go out there and throw nine strong and throw CGs.

“Another place and time, I think I would have given him an opportunity to throw 110-115 pitches. But it just wasn’t the right — didn’t feel right to have that happen today. He will get that opportunity, he will go 110 pitches. And I’ve stretched him out — I think he’s gone as high as 116. But I’ve got to be very mindful of the athlete and I don’t want to put him in a bad situation.”

EXTRA BASES

One D-backs rookie who unfortunately didn’t get an opportunity to join in on the RBI parade was OF Stone Garrett, who had the day off despite hitting his first two big league home runs on Sunday and Monday after making his MLB debut on Aug. 17.

UP NEXT

The Diamondbacks go for the three-game series sweep over the Phillies on Wednesday at 6:40 p.m. on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

Arizona rookie LHP Tommy Henry (3-2, 3.25 ERA) is scheduled to start against Philadelphia LHP Bailey Falter (2-3, 4.41 ERA).

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