Zac Gallen pitched six strong innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks finally got their offense going to avoid a three-game sweep, defeating the host Baltimore Orioles 9-2 on Sunday afternoon.
Jake McCarthy’s first home run of the season was a two-run shot in Arizona’s six-run sixth inning. Ketel Marte drove in three runs.
Gallen (5-2) took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, when Anthony Santander and Jordan Westburg hit consecutive doubles to begin the inning. The All-Star pitcher allowed two runs and four hits while striking out four and walking two.
Orioles starter Dean Kremer (3-3) had a personal three-game winning streak snapped. He allowed six runs (three earned) on four hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out 10.
Adley Rutschman homered for the Orioles, who lost for only the second time in their last nine games. He has six home runs this season, with two in May.
The Diamondbacks, who wrapped up a 4-2 road trip, scored their first three runs without a run-producing hit. Overall, they were efficient, producing nine runs through six innings on just seven hits.
By the time there was a rain delay in the top of the eighth, the Diamondbacks were clearly in control. The Orioles didn’t have a hit in the final three innings.
Neither team had a hit until Arizona’s Corbin Carroll led off the fourth with a double. He scored later that inning on Christian Walker’s sacrifice fly.
The Diamondbacks loaded the bases with one out in the fifth, with Carroll’s fielder’s choice grounder resulting in another run. Marte’s sacrifice fly stretched the lead to 3-0.
With Arizona leading 3-1 with two outs in the sixth, McCarthy launched his first home run since last June 17 vs. Cleveland. Kremer walked the next batter and was done for the day.
The Diamondbacks weren’t done in that inning, extending the margin to 9-1 on Marte’s two-run single and pinch hitter Randal Grichuk’s two-run double off Cionel Perez.
–Field Level Media
