The Arizona Diamondbacks play the Oakland Athletics on Saturday in the middle game of a three-game series in Phoenix, marking Zac Gallen’s return following a 30-day hiatus.
Since sustaining a right hamstring injury on May 30 against the New York Mets, Gallen has remained out. He said that the injury occurred on his sixth pitch of the contest. After one pitch, Gallen left. Gallen will try to help Arizona bounce back from a 9-4 setback in the series opener on Friday night when he takes the mound.
This week, the right-hander has advanced further, putting up 67 pitches in a simulated game on Monday and working through a bullpen session three days later. Prior to Friday’s game, manager Torey Lovullo made hints regarding Gallen’s comeback. “It’s most likely Major League Baseball’s worst-kept secret. “Don’t be surprised if he becomes our starting pitcher in the next 24 hours; he should be very ready,” said Lovullo, who made the formal announcement following the game. Undoubtedly, the Diamondbacks are pleased to get their ace back.
The pitching staff has allowed 50 runs and 72 hits in the last six games. Throughout the stretch and in games 13 and 11, the opposition has recorded three instances of 14 hits. Gallen (5-4, 3.12 ERA) set career highs in innings thrown (210), strikeouts (220), and victories (17) during the previous season, placing third in the National League Cy Young voting.
In addition, he started the All-Star Game for the National League. Prior to the appearance in which he was hurt against the Mets, the 28-year-old Gallen had lost four of his previous six starts and hadn’t found his rhythm this season. In his two career starts versus Oakland, both ending in no-decisions, Gallen has a 1.64 ERA. It’s 1 for 6 for Aledmys Diaz vs Gallen. In the first game of the series, the Athletics unleashed their powerful bats, hitting four home runs.
They ended an 11-game road losing run as well as an overall five-game losing streak. On June 1, they defeated the Atlanta Braves on the road. In the eighth inning, Tyler Soderstrom blasted the game-tying home run. In the ninth inning, Daz Cameron, Shea Langeliers, and Brent Rooker all blasted home runs. “Mark Kotsay, the manager of Oakland, said that the offense hit the ball well.” “Overall, it was a great game.” Zack Gelof, who bats light, finished with three hits, including the game-winning triple in the eighth inning.
“Zack had an amazing night,” Kotsay remarked. He’s put in a lot of effort at work. He’s had a great month of June compared to April and May, and he’s concluding this month with great strength.” In June, Gelof is hitting.256 with five home runs. His average is now.205, an increase of 26 points. “We put it together all around,” Gelof remarked after Friday’s triumph. “It just feels good to win on the road.” The win ended the Diamondbacks’ losing streak and was only Oakland’s fourth in their last 19 games overall. After the game, Lovullo stated, “We’ve got to pitch better.”
We’re going to defeat the Oakland A’s in three games, so you can’t assume anything. That is a proficient squad. They have young, very motivated players under an excellent boss.” On Saturday, Hogan Harris (1-1, 2.72)—a left-hander—will open for the Athletics. After giving up three runs and five hits in six innings on Sunday, Harris, 27, was defeated by the Minnesota Twins.
In his last appearance, Harris won his first victory of the year by limiting the Kansas City Royals to three hits and one earned run in five innings. Harris is not familiar with the Diamondbacks.