Zac Gallen Shuts Out Dodgers, Diamondbacks Win 3-0

The Arizona Diamondbacks made a statement on Friday night, shutting out the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-0 at Dodger Stadium. Zac Gallen dazzled on the mound, and the bullpen handled the rest with some of their best work of the season.

This one felt like a playoff game from the jump. The D-backs got timely hits from Blaze Alexander and Gabriel Moreno to build their lead. Their defense and pitching kept the Dodgers’ big bats silent all night.

Gallen’s August Form Shines in Contract Year

Zac Gallen has had a roller-coaster season, but lately, he looks locked in. He struck out eight Dodgers through five innings, mowing them down early and often.

The sixth inning got dicey—traffic on the bases, nerves creeping in—but Gallen stayed cool and worked out of trouble. His August has been a strong one, and honestly, it couldn’t come at a better time with his contract situation looming.

Gallen’s fastball command and biting breaking stuff left the Dodgers guessing from start to finish.

Dodgers’ Snell Holds Early… Then Breaks

Blake Snell matched Gallen pitch for pitch early, notching eight strikeouts of his own. But in the fourth, he left one up to Blaze Alexander, who absolutely torched it for a two-run homer into the bullpen.

Alexander didn’t hold back—bat flip, stare, a little swagger. The Diamondbacks weren’t intimidated by the Dodger Stadium crowd, not for a second.

Key Offensive Moments for Arizona

That two-run shot set the tone, but Arizona tacked on another in the sixth. Corbin Carroll smoked a double and came around to score when Gabriel Moreno lined an RBI single, chasing Snell from the game.

The offense hit a wall after that. The Dodgers’ bullpen retired the last 11 Arizona hitters in order, not allowing another hit.

Offensive Struggles from the “Rattle” Trio

Arizona got clutch knocks from Alexander, Carroll, and Moreno. But the so-called “Rattle” trio—Tyler Locklear, Alek Thomas, and Jordan Lawlar—just couldn’t get it going.

They went a combined 0-for-12 with eight strikeouts. That’s a rough night, no way around it.

Defensive Excellence Balances Offense

Good thing for the D-backs, their defense picked them up. Lawlar, despite his struggles at the plate, made a slick play at third in the seventh—charging a slow roller and firing on the run to get a speedy runner.

Plays like that can swing momentum. On a night like this, they kept Gallen’s gem from going to waste.

Dominant Bullpen Closes the Door

The Diamondbacks’ bullpen—Jalen Beeks, Tyler Backhus, and Jake Woodford—shut the door. They allowed just two baserunners the rest of the way.

Woodford faced Dodgers star Freddie Freeman in the ninth, which was a gutsy call. Freeman’s crushed righties all year, but Woodford got him for the final out and sealed the win.

Momentum Heading into Saturday

Arizona didn’t just notch a shutout—they showed they can go toe-to-toe with the Dodgers in a high-stakes setting. Alexander’s bat flip said it all, honestly. The D-backs will try to ride that energy into Saturday.

Next up: a pitching matchup between Eduardo Rodriguez for Arizona and Dodgers’ flamethrower Tyler Glasnow. If Friday’s any sign, Arizona’s recipe is clear—pitch well, defend like crazy, and get that one big hit when it matters.

Key Takeaways from the Diamondbacks’ Win

• Gallen handled the pressure and racked up eight strikeouts. He’s really driving a strong August turnaround.
• Blaze Alexander keeps coming through with clutch power when it matters most.
• The Diamondbacks’ bullpen locked down a scary Dodgers lineup. That group’s just been a steady force.
• Arizona still pulled off the win, even though the “Rattle” trio struggled at the plate.
• Jordan Lawlar’s defense made a real difference, helping keep the shutout alive.

Friday night’s shutout wasn’t just another win. It felt like the kind of game that could spark a serious playoff run for the Diamondbacks.

Beating a team like the Dodgers? That’s a statement. Arizona showed they’re right in the thick of the October conversation, no question.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Diamondbacks 3, Dodgers 0: Gallen Gooses Guggenheim Guys