Zac Gallen Dominates Dodgers as Diamondbacks Snap Losing Streak

The Arizona Diamondbacks kicked off their weekend series against the Los Angeles Dodgers with a sharp 3-0 win on Friday night. Ace right-hander Zac Gallen took control early and never really let up.

Arizona’s bats did just enough, and the bullpen held the line. The Dodgers, usually one of baseball’s scariest lineups, couldn’t get anything going.

Gallen mixed his fastball and curveball with real confidence. Blaze Alexander and Gabriel Moreno came through with the big hits.

Zac Gallen Shines in a Statement Win

From the first pitch, Gallen looked locked in. He threw six shutout innings, struck out eight Dodgers, and only gave up two hits.

He did issue a few early walks, but he found the strike zone when it mattered. In the sixth, he got out of a tough jam against Dodgers catcher Will Smith.

His ERA dropped to 4.94. He’s now put together six straight starts of at least five innings with three or fewer runs allowed—pretty solid stuff.

Post-Deadline Dominance

Since the trade deadline, Gallen’s been on a tear. He’s posted a 2.57 ERA over that stretch, and Arizona’s gone 16-11 when he pitches.

This is the kind of consistency the team’s needed from its ace. He’s looking more and more like the guy they can count on down the stretch.

Key Offensive Moments for Arizona

The bats didn’t explode, but they showed up when it counted. In the fourth, rookie Blaze Alexander jumped on a Blake Snell fastball and sent it out for a two-run homer.

That was the big blow. It kind of felt like the turning point right there.

Moreno Extends the Lead

Gabriel Moreno chipped in during the sixth. His RBI single gave Arizona a 3-0 lead, and that was the last hit they’d need.

The offense didn’t do much after that, but honestly, it didn’t have to. The pitching staff had things under control.

• Blaze Alexander: Two-run home run in the 4th inning.
• Gabriel Moreno: RBI single in the 6th inning for a 3-0 lead.
• Jordan Lawlar: 0-for-4 in first MLB start since May.

Lockdown Bullpen Seals the Deal

After Gallen finished his six innings, manager Torey Lovullo handed things over to the bullpen. Jalen Beeks, Kyle Backhus, and Jake Woodford each took care of their innings without a hitch.

Woodford closed it out for the save. L.A. never really threatened late—the bullpen just kept them quiet.

Containing the Dodgers’ Bats

The Dodgers came in with one of the league’s best offenses. Arizona’s pitchers limited them to just two hits all night.

They stayed ahead in counts and didn’t let the Dodgers’ big bats get comfortable. The Diamondbacks really set the tone for the rest of the series.

What This Win Means for Arizona

Friday’s win felt like more than just another tally. When Arizona’s pitching clicks like this, you can see what they’re capable of.

Gallen’s resurgence is giving the team a real shot as the season winds down. And with young players like Alexander stepping up, there’s a bit of hope for what’s next.

Next Game Preview

The series picks back up on Saturday. Eduardo Rodriguez will start for the Diamondbacks, facing off against Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow.

Arizona just needs to find that mix of sharp pitching and clutch hitting once again. If they do, this divisional matchup could get even more interesting.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Diamondbacks’ Zac Gallen shuts down Dodgers in win