Diamondbacks beat Pirates in 3-run inning

The Arizona Diamondbacks have made a strong start to the second half, going 4-2 since the All-Star break.

They want to keep the good atmosphere going, as the 53-50 D-backs host the 52-50 Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Snakes and Pirates are both in a neck-and-neck race for a wildcard, so every game in this series will be crucial for a potential playoff spot.

D-Backs ace Zach Gallen (7-5 ​​3.64) will be in action tonight in the series opener, facing 25-year-old Dominican flamethrower Luis Ortiz (5-2 2.57).

Gallen started off slow loading the bases with Pirates right fielder Josh Palacios coming to bat, Palacios would hit a 2-run single to right field to make it 2-0 Pirates. Gallen would limit the damage and get out of the inning.

Gallen told Northeast Valley News after the game:

“I feel like I gave a good pitch to Palacios, he just had a good approach,” Gallen said.

The second inning didn’t go much better for Gallen, as Designated hitter Andrew McCutchen hit an RBI double over the head of Center Fielder Corbin Carroll to give the Pirates a 3-0 lead.

The D-backs answered in the third inning, after a leadoff triple by Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte hit a sacrifice fly to left field to cut the lead to 3-1.

After both starters had put out the side, Dbacks DH Joc Pederson finally hit an absolute moonshot from 450 feet to right field in the sixth inning to make it 3-2 for the Pirates.

A walk to next batter Christian Walker ended the night for Luis Ortiz.

Ortiz’s last line 5+ ip 5 h 3 er 4 k’s

That wouldn’t be the end of the sixth inning for the D-backs, however, as catcher Gabriel Moreno tied the score with an rbi-single to right field and a wild pitch from Carmen Mlodzinski scored Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to make it 4-3 in favor of the D-backs.

After a slow start to the game, Gallen was able to quickly adjust and give his team six strong innings.

After the game, manager Torey Lovullo praised Zach’s ability to bounce back from setbacks.

“He’s good enough to train himself, he knows when it’s time to take a deep breath, get a feel for a certain field, get back out there, get back in the dugout and just develop a little more confidence,” Lovullo said.

Lovullo sent Gallen out in the seventh inning, but that decision backfired as Gallen walked the first two batters he faced.

Kevin Ginkel came in for Gallen, Ginkel put Andrew McCutchen and O’neil Cruz on strikes and then got Nick Gonzales to ground out to third base to get out of trouble.

“We have great teammates that come into the game, like Kevin Ginkel, and he executed an unbelievable game plan and got us out of that mess,” Lovullo said.

Gallen’s last line 6+ ip 5 h 3 er 6 k’s

After Ryan Thompson took care of business in the 8th centuryeThe D-backs called up their closer, Paul Sewald, for the 9eSewald got the first two outs with ease, but then gave up a 2-out single to O’Neil Cruz. It didn’t matter, though, as he hit a fastball off Nick Gonzales and the D-backs won the first game of the series, 4-3.

Gallen collects his 8e win of the year, and Sewald gets his 16e to rescue.

The win moves the D-backs four games above .500, and just one game behind the Padres for the third wild card spot in the National League.

Brandon Pfaadt will take the mound tomorrow at 5:10 PM as the D-backs look to win their 4 games.e straight series.