The Los Angeles Dodgers again had success against Zac Gallen and it amounted to a 7-4 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks to open their homestand on a positive note.
Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy jumpstarted the Dodgers early with respective home runs in the first inning. However, the Diamondbacks scored a run in the second and had a three-run fourth inning to take a 4-3 lead.
That remained in place until Jason Heyward and James Outman connected on back-to-back home runs in the sixth inning. It marked the ninth time this season the Dodgers hit back-to-back homers.
It also represented the first time Gallen surrendered three home runs in a start since August 15, 2021. He was chased from the game with one out in the bottom of the sixth.
Outman provided some insurance for the Dodgers bullpen in the seventh inning with an RBI single off Bryce Jarvis.
Gallen’s outing fell short of Bobby Miller getting through six innings and allowing four runs in a solid but not dominant performance. Miller has now pitched at least six innings in each of his last four starts as the Dodgers monitor his workload heading into the playoffs.
Alex Vesia, Ryan Brasier and Caleb Ferguson each pitched one scoreless inning. The save was Ferguson’s third of the season.
Dodgers’ success against Zac Gallen
When the Dodgers last faced Gallen, they scored five runs and he pitched just 4.2 innings en route to taking the loss at Chase Field on Opening Day.
Gallen nevertheless entered the series opener 14-5 with a 3.11 ERA and 1.06 WHIP over 27 starts this season.
“You could argue he’s one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the game. “He’s tough, got good stuff, he’s smart, you could see he has a plan and executes it.
“He pitches to both sides of the plate, he can front to back you, he can spin the baseball. He’s an ace. This is a good challenge for us.”
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