Zac Gallen returned from the injured list to throw six brilliant innings, and Ketel Marte, Jake McCarthy and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had run-scoring hits as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the visiting Oakland Athletics 3-0 on Saturday afternoon.
One day after the A’s had put up nine runs on the hosts in the series opener, Gallen (6-4) tag-teamed with Kevin Ginkel and Paul Sewald on a two-hitter, helping the Diamondbacks win for just the second time in their last seven games.
After facing just one batter in his previous start on May 30 at the New York Mets before leaving with a strained right hamstring, Gallen threw 77 pitches in his comeback effort, allowing just one hit. He walked one and struck out seven.
Oakland’s only hit off the right-hander came three batters into the game when Brent Rooker singled to center field.
Ginkel faced just seven batters in recording six outs in the seventh and eighth, before Sewald sewed up Arizona’s fifth shutout of the season with a 1-2-3 ninth, recording his 11th save.
By the time Gallen handed off the ball, the Diamondbacks had done all their scoring, tallying single runs in the second, third and fourth innings off A’s starter Hogan Harris (1-2).
Marte opened the scoring in the second with a two-out single that scored Eugenio Suarez, who had singled.
McCarthy made it 2-0 an inning later, again coming through with two outs with a single that plated Christian Walker.
The Diamondbacks completed their scoring in the fourth when Gurriel doubled to score Jose Herrera, who had singled ahead of a Marte single.
Harris was pulled after 3 1/3 innings, having allowed three runs and 10 hits. The left-hander walked one and struck out three.
Marte went 3-for-4 for the Diamondbacks, who finished with 12 hits. Gurriel, Walker and Suarez chipped in with two hits apiece.
Miguel Andujar had Oakland’s second and final hit, a single to lead off the seventh against Ginkel. The A’s were shut out for the ninth time this season.
–Field Level Media