PHOENIX, AZ — The Arizona Diamondbacks needed their ace to step up and stop a three-game skid, and Zac Gallen delivered in a big way. In his likely final start of the regular season, Gallen pitched six dominant innings, allowing just one run on two hits while striking out a season-high 11 batters. His efforts propelled the D-backs to an 8-2 win over the San Francisco Giants, keeping Arizona (88-71) in a strong position for a postseason spot.

“That’s probably the best I’ve felt in a while,” Gallen said. “There’s been some good outings in there, but either just didn’t feel great or battled a little bit of a sickness for a little while. … It’s the best one in a while.”

Slow Start Turns into Stellar Performance

Gallen’s night didn’t begin smoothly. He labored through the first two innings, throwing 41 pitches and surrendering an early 1-0 lead to the Giants on a Tyler Fitzgerald double in the second. But from that point forward, Gallen found his rhythm, retiring 12 consecutive batters, including seven via strikeout.

Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks’ offense came alive, generating five runs on seven hits and five walks between the second and fourth innings. By the end of the fourth inning, every Arizona player had reached base safely. San Francisco pulled starter Mason Black after just 2.2 innings.

Offensive Surge Helps Arizona Pull Away

Pavin Smith provided a pivotal moment in the eighth inning with a pinch-hit, three-run homer that pushed the D-backs’ lead to 8-2. The offense’s rally helped solidify Arizona’s grip on the game and Gallen’s confidence on the mound.

The turning point came in the third inning. After Arizona took a 3-1 lead, Gallen quickly shut down the Giants with a nine-pitch, 1-2-3 inning, allowing his team to extend the lead to 4-1. From there, he cruised.

“To put up a couple runs and have a quick 1-2-3 inning, get right back in the dugout, keep the offense rolling, keep the energy high, all that is so important,” first baseman Christian Walker said.

Gallen’s Curveball Proves Key

Gallen’s curveball was his most effective weapon, generating 11 swings and misses on 17 attempts and finishing off seven strikeouts with the pitch.

“They just seemed really aggressive at the bottom of the zone, so I was trying to use it to my advantage,” Gallen said.

His stellar September, where he posted a 2.67 ERA in five starts, cemented his role as Arizona’s most reliable arm heading into potential postseason play. Over the season, Gallen has compiled a solid 3.65 ERA across 148 innings, finishing with a 14-6 record and helping Arizona go 18-10 in his starts.

Urgency Fuels Diamondbacks as Playoff Race Heats Up

The Diamondbacks were in desperate need of a win to stay competitive in the tight Wild Card race. Manager Torey Lovullo and general manager Mike Hazen agreed that Gallen was the right pitcher for the moment, and the team’s ace embraced the pressure.

“The biggest thing is just pitching to win, not pitching to not lose,” Gallen said. “When you get in a tight spot, you can be a little, I don’t want to say timid, but maybe you’re waiting for something to happen. So I’m trying to be on the attack, trying to be aggressive, just take it to them.”

With the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves both rained out on Wednesday, the D-backs gained a half-game on their Wild Card rivals. Arizona and the Mets (87-70) now sit virtually tied, one game ahead of the Braves (86-71) heading into Thursday.

Diamondbacks Bounce Back from Tough Losses

The Diamondbacks needed to rebound after a heartbreaking 10-9 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday and two subpar performances against the Giants. Lovullo addressed the team on Tuesday, choosing to inspire rather than reprimand after an 11-0 loss. His positive message resonated with the players, and the results showed on the field Wednesday.

Walker described the moment in the clubhouse as urgent but not anxious. “These matter big time,” Walker said. “I think we had to prove to ourselves to get back on track. We had to find a little confidence, a little swagger. A lot of props to Gallen on the mound tonight, but I think we checked a lot of boxes, taking a little bit of load off, and taking some pressure off and remembering how good this offense can be.”

Pavin Smith echoed the sentiment: “You can call it pressure. We know they’re super important, so it’s going to feel a little extra pressure. But just getting out to a good start today, and then Gallen being so dominant took the pressure off a little bit.”

Final Series Looms Large for Arizona’s Playoff Hopes

As the Diamondbacks prepare for their final series of the regular season against the San Diego Padres, they control their destiny. Merrill Kelly is set to start the opener on Friday.

While a series win won’t guarantee a playoff spot, it will put Arizona in a strong position. A sweep, however, would remove all doubt.

“We very much feel like we control our own destiny in here,” Walker said.