Zac Gallen Allows 8 Runs in 13-3 Loss to Pirates

The Diamondbacks ace pummeled in worst start of his career

After each of his last three starts Zac Gallen said he didn't feel great out on the mound. The results were so good however, just 6 earned runs in 19.2 innings, it was hard to take him seriously. Maybe we should have listened to him.  Gallen had one of the worst starts in his career tonight, giving up  eight runs, five earned  as the Pirates routed  the Diamondbacks 13 to 3

The Pirates game plan seemed to be jump on the first hittable strike they saw, and Gallen provided them with a slew of center cut fastballs and cutters that the Pirates hitters hammered all night. 12 of the 17 balls put in play against Gallen were between 96-106 MPH exit velocity. Anything over 95 MPH is considered a "hard hit" ball by Statcast.

Andrew McCutchen singled sharply to leadoff the game but was eliminated by a double play. In the second inning back to back doubles by Carlos Santana and Ke'Bryan Hayes plated the first Pirates run. Gallen walked a batter with two outs, but Geraldo Perdomo made a great play on a ball up the middle to get Gallen out of the jam. It looked like he might settle down after completing the third inning with just a single allowed, and his pitch count only at 41.

Instead disaster struck in the fourth inning. Shockingly Gallen allowed the most runs he's ever allowed in an inning  on the following sequence: BB, Double, 2 RBI Single, E5, BB, RBI BB,  2 RBI Double,  K,  2 RBI single. 

When Torey Lovullo finally came out to get him Gallen had allowed seven runs The eight total runs allowed were also a career high, but only five were earned due to a Josh Rojas error on a ball hit 98 MPH that he failed to make a play on with the back hand.  

Gallen's final line was  3.2 IP, 8 hits, 8 Runs, 5 ER, 4BB, 2 K. He's now 6-2 with a 2.95 ERA. 

Anthony Misiewicz gave up a three run homer to Bryan Reynolds in the fifth inning.  At that point the score was 11-1, squashing any comeback hopes.  Geraldo Perdomo had homered in the 3rd inning for the only run scored off Pirates starter Johan Oviedo.  Oviedo held the D-backs to just two hits over six innings striking out seven batters. 

Duane Underwood Jr, walked two batters and gave up a two-run double to  Josh Rojas in the 7th to make it 11-3 . Underwood had to be removed from the game with what turned out to be right forearm tightness.  Luis Frias pitched two scoreless innings despite walking two batters. But with his bullpen over taxed  the last couple of weeks Lovullo ran up the white flag, sending catcher Jose Herrera out to pitch the bottom of the 8th.  The Pirates tacked on two more runs for the final margin. 

The D-backs fall to 25-20, while the Pirates improve to 24-20, just a half game back of Arizona for the NL Wild Card.  The D-backs will try to regroup tomorrow afternoon behind Brandon Pfaadt, who will face Mitch Keller. Game time is 1:05  Arizona time, 4:05 EST