PHOENIX — Zac Gallen’s first two outings on the mound had been fairly tough this season.
To hold the gradual begin in perspective, the Arizona Diamondbacks ace wore a beige and inexperienced hat to the ballpark on Monday that mentioned “Don’t Trip” – a reminder that it was simply two begins, there was a ton of season left and there was no purpose to freak out.
Outing No. 3 was a lot, significantly better.
Gallen struck out 11 over seven innings, Christian Walker smacked a two-run homer and the Diamondbacks received their fourth straight recreation, beating the Milwaukee Brewers 3-0.
“Having a night like this is nice, a confidence boost,” Gallen mentioned. “But I really wasn’t too worried about it. It’s two starts, now this is the third, and hopefully I’ll have 27 to 30 more. It’s just understanding it’s a long season.”
Nick Ahmed had three hits whereas Ketel Marte added two for the D-backs, who took three of 4 from the Dodgers over the weekend.
PHOTOS: Gallen strikes out 11, Diamondbacks beat Brewers 3-0
Arizona took a 1-0 lead within the first when Josh Rojas’ single introduced dwelling Marte, who led off the inning with a double. Walker slugged his two-run homer within the fifth, with the ball barely clearing the right-center wall.
The Brewers had been coming off a superb homestand, successful 5 of six. But they couldn’t remedy Gallen (1-1), who completed fifth within the NL Cy Young Award voting final season. The right-hander gave up three hits and a stroll.
“His curveball was really good tonight,” Brewers supervisor Craig Counsell mentioned. “We just couldn’t see it.”
Scott McGough threw a scoreless eighth and Andrew Chafin dealt with the ninth for his second save.
Milwaukee’s Wade Miley (1-1) gave up three runs on 5 hits over 5 innings. The Brewers struck out 15 instances and completed with three hits – none for further bases.
“It was a good, clean game,” D-backs supervisor Torey Lovullo mentioned. “Those are the games everyone enjoys. We played great defense, got a few timely hits and great pitching.”
STAR STRUCK
Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant got here to Monday’s recreation with a handful of teammates. The 13-time All-Star – who was dealt to the Suns in a blockbuster commerce deadline deal again in February – was sporting the jersey of rookie Corbin Carroll.
“Someone told me in the third inning,” Carroll mentioned with a smile. “I gave it a peek. That was pretty cool.”
Carroll – who was sporting a Suns shirt – grew up in Seattle and remembers going to Sonics video games as a child earlier than the franchise moved to Oklahoma City. Durant performed in Seattle throughout his rookie yr in 2007-08.
“It was a full circle moment for me,” Carroll mentioned.
QUICK PACE
The recreation was accomplished in 2 hours, 12 minutes, partly due to the brand new pitch clock guidelines which have shortened video games by greater than half-hour over final season.
TELLEZ’S STRANGE Okay
Milwaukee’s Rowdy Tellez was known as for strike three within the seventh inning due to a pitch-clock violation. The first baseman wasn’t prepared within the batter’s field with 8 seconds remaining.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Diamondbacks: Lovullo mentioned rookie RHP Drey Jameson will begin in opposition to the Brewers on Wednesday. A spot within the rotation opened when RHP Zach Davies (indirect) went on the injured listing. Jameson began the season within the bullpen, the place he has a 2.16 ERA in 8 1/3 innings over three appearances.
UP NEXT
The Brewers ship RHP Corbin Burnes (0-1, 9.64 ERA) to the mound on Tuesday evening. The D-backs will counter with RHP Merrill Kelly (0-1, 3.86 ERA)
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