Zac Gallen hammered as Pirates romp over Diamondbacks in series opener
PITTSBURGH — Ke’Bryan Hayes had three hits and three RBIs, Bryan Reynolds homered for the first time in six weeks and drove in four runs, and the Pittsburgh Pirates rolled over ace Zac Gallen and the Arizona Diamondbacks 13-3 on Friday night.
Gallen (6-2) lasted just 3 2/3 innings and allowed a career-high eight runs – five earned – and eight hits as his six-game winning streak ended. He walked four and struck out two. Gallen had given up a total of six runs in his previous seven starts.
Andrew McCutchen, Ji Hwan Bae and Josh Palacios also had three hits apiece as part of the Pirates’ 17-hit outburst. Jack Suwinski added two hits.
The Pirates scored eight runs in their previous game Wednesday at Detroit. Before that, they had scored no more than four runs in 14 straight games and reached that total only once.
Johan Oviedo (3-3) won for the first time in five starts. He gave up one run and two hits in six innings while striking out seven and walking three. In his previous four starts, Oviedo was tagged for 18 earned runs in 17 2/3 innings.
The Pirates won for the third time in their last four games. That comes after losing 11 of 12 following a surprising 20-8 start to the season.
The Diamondbacks lost for the second time in seven games. Backup catcher Jose Herrera pitched the eighth inning and gave up two runs in his first mound appearance in a major-league game.
The Pirates chased Gallen with a seven-run fourth inning in which they sent 11 batters to the plate while snapping a 1-1 tie. Gallen had three walks in the inning and third baseman Josh Rojas committed a fielding error that led to three unearned runs.
Palacios put the Pirates ahead 3-1 by grounding a two-run single into left field. Bryan Reynolds drew a bases-loaded walk and Suwinski hit a two-run double before Hayes capped the outburst with a two-run single.
Reynolds’ three-run homer an inning later pushed the lead to 11-1. It was Reynolds’ sixth home run of the season but first since April 7, a span of 34 games.
The Pirates scored the game’s first run on back-to-back doubles by Santana and Hayes in the second inning. Geraldo Perdomo’s solo home run in the third inning drew the Diamondbacks into a tie.
Rojas hit a two-run double in the seventh. The Diamondbacks’ Lourdes Gurriel Jr. extended his hitting streak to 12 games with an eighth-inning single.
Hometown heroes
Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson, a Pittsburgh native and former Phoenix Suns player, threw a ceremonial first pitch. Johnson played collegiately at Pitt before transferring to North Carolina then becoming a first-round pick in the NBA Draft in 2019.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett was also in attendance.
Trainer's room
RHP Zach Davies (strained left oblique) is scheduled to make his first rehab start Saturday for Double-A Amarillo. After that, the Diamondbacks will determine if he needs a second minor-league outing before being activated from the injured list … OF Kyle Lewis (illness) played in the Arizona Complex League for the second time in three days Friday … LHP Joe Mantiply (left shoulder inflammation) will throw off flat ground Saturday for the first time since going on the IL. … C Carson Kelly (fractured right forearm) is expected to begin taking live batting practice next week.
Coming up
Saturday: At Pittsburgh, 1:05 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (0-1, 8.59) vs. Pirates RHP Roansy Contreras (3-4, 4.40).
Sunday: At Pittsburgh, 10:35 a.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (4-3, 2.92) vs. Pirates RHP Mitch Keller (5-1, 2.38).
Monday: At Philadelphia, 3:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Tommy Henry (1-1, 5.00) vs. Phillies RHP Zack Wheeler (3-3, 4.06).
Series notes
The first meeting of the season brings together a pair of second-place ballclubs. The Diamondbacks are 25-19, 2 1/2 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West; the Pirates are 23-20, one game back of the Brewers in the NL Central. ... The Pirates have a 13-1 record in games when they hit at least two home runs. ... Diamondbacks hitters have a collective .441 slugging percentage to rank seventh in MLB.
Injury update
Pirates: Vince Velasquez: 15-Day IL (elbow), Wil Crowe: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Ji-Man Choi: 60-Day IL (achilles), Rob Zastryzny: 15-Day IL (elbow), Oneil Cruz: 60-Day IL (ankle), JT Brubaker: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jarlin Garcia: 60-Day IL (arm), Max Kranick: 60-Day IL (elbow); Diamondbacks: Joe Mantiply: 15-Day IL (hamstring), Kyle Lewis: 10-Day IL (illness), Cole Sulser: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Mark Melancon: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Zach Davies: 15-Day IL (oblique), Corbin Martin: 60-Day IL (lat), Carson Kelly: 10-Day IL (forearm).
Wednesday game recap: Ryne Nelson's best start of season leads Diamondbacks past Oakland A's
Up next: Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates were perhaps the surprise of April with their hot start. After a doubleheader sweep on April 29, they were 20-8, having won 11 of 12 games. For a team that has lost 100 games in consecutive seasons, it was a shocking month. Immediately, though, they entered a tailspin, losing seven in a row and 11 of 12. The past few days have been better, with the Pirates taking the series finale in Baltimore and splitting a two-game set with the Tigers. They're still three games over .500 at 23-20, but now sit a game back of the first-place Brewers in the NL Central. Ace Mitch Keller has been one of the best pitchers in baseball with a 2.38. 43-year-old LHP Rich Hill is defying time with a 3.80 ERA. Behind them, the Pirates' bullpen ERA of 3.49 is the best in the National League. The entire starting outfield has also been excellent. Bryan Reynolds, Jack Suwinski and Connor Joe all have an OPS over .800. After five years away, DH Andrew McCutchen returned to the franchise with which he won the 2014 NL MVP this off-season. He has a .812 OPS, his best mark since 2018.
Pregame reading
More: Diamondbacks' Corbin Carroll breaking out of 'frustrating' first MLB slump
'A shell of what it was': For Diamondbacks with Oakland connections, A's move hits home
Elite list: Diamondbacks' Zac Gallen hits bird in warmups, channeling MLB legend Randy Johnson
More: Why the Diamondbacks optioned Alek Thomas to Triple-A Reno
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Zac Gallen hammered as Pirates romp over Diamondbacks in series opener
