D-backs 4-Run 9th Secures Comeback, Series Sweep Over Tigers

The Diamondbacks scored a run in the 8th inning and four runs in the 9th to turn a 5-2 deficit into a 7-5 victory over the Tigers. The win completed a three game sweep and moves the first place D-backs to 40-25 on the season. They had fallen behind early when Zac Gallen had another poor outing, putting the team into a hole. But a three hit day from Corbin Carroll and a huge two-out, two RBI double from Christian Walker in the 9th turned a loss into an unlikely win.

Kevin Ginkel threw two strong innings of scoreless relief to keep it close and buy time for the comeback, picking up his 3rd win. Scott McGough rescued Andrew Chafin by getting two outs in the bottom of the 9th to secure his 2nd save of the year. Chafin had given up a leadoff triple and walked a batter prior to McGough shutting it down.

Box Score

Gallen has been so good for so long that it's truly shocking when he has an game like today. Unfortunately he's had several of them lately. The Tigers jumped on him for 10 hits, scoring five runs in another lackluster outing.

He gave up an RBI double in the first inning to Phil Maton. In the third inning a double by Spencer Torkelson was followed by a base hit from Kris Carpenter, and a sacrifice fly by Javier Baez. The game was still a 2-2 tie at that point however thanks to a two run homer by Pavin Smith in the second inning. He hit it off left-hander Joey Wentz who had just come into the game following opener Will Vest's scoreless first inning.

Pavin Smith answers back for Zac Gallen giving #Dbacks the 2-1 lead

pic.twitter.com/ODUipJDixW
— Jack Sommers (@shoewizard59) June 11, 2023

The Tigers got to Gallen again in the 4th inning. Miguel Cabrera singled, and Jake Marisnick doubled him to 3rd base. Zack McKinstry then got a cutter middle in and drove it 378 feet into the right field bleachers for a three run homer, putting Detroit up 5-2.

Gallen threw a scoreless 5th inning and got two outs in the 6th but had to leave with two runners on. Kyle Nelson struck out the final batter closing out Gallen's line at 5.2 IP, 10 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR.

Gallen has been so good for so long that it's truly shocking when he has an game like today. Unfortunately he's had several of them lately. Over his last five games, 27 innings Gallen has allowed 18 runs, 14 earned, on 37 hits, 11 walks, 23 strikeouts and two homers. His ERA is 4.67 over this stretch and runs allowed per 9 innings (RA-9) is 6.00. Perhaps most concerning, his fastball velocity was down 1.5 MPH today, from 93.6 to 9.21. Earlier in the year he seemed to be establishing a dominating changeup. But he's all but abandoned that pitch of late. He threw only eight of them today, relying mostly on fastball and cutter.

The D-backs had chances to score more runs early in this game then just the two tallied prior to the 8th on Smith's Homer. Carroll had tripled with one out in the first inning, recording the second fastest home to third sprint speed (10.93 seconds) in MLB this year in the process. But he was stranded there when Lourdes Gurriel Jr popped out and Christian Walker flew out thanks to a great catch by a sprawling Zac McKinstry on the dirt in the right field corner.

Wentz retired 12 straight batters after the Smith homer, but walked Ketel Marte to leadoff the 6th. He was relieved with one out and Marte never advanced to second base. Evan Longoria led off with a walk in the 7th and Smith singled for his second hit of he game. But Nick Ahmed and Jake McCarthy sandwiched strikeouts around a Gabriel Moreno force out.

They finally got their 3rd run in the 8th inning against former Diamondback Tyler Holton. Carroll hit a one out double, stole third, and scored on a Gurriel ground out getting the D-backs to within 5-3. Walker then doubled with two outs, followed by walks to Geraldo Perdomo and Smith to load the bases. But Ahmed struck out again to finish his day 0-4 with five left on base.

The D-backs finally broke through in the 9th. Emmanuel Rivera singled with one out, and Marte drew his second walk. Carrol then picked up his third hit of the game, a single to drive in Rivera, making it 5-4. Gurriel flew out to left, but Walker's big hit drove in Marte and Carroll for the go ahead runs. Geraldo Perdomo then singled home walker for what turned out to be an important insurance run, putting the D-backs up 7-5

A huge two out hit by Christian Walker with two runners on completes #Dbacks comeback winpic.twitter.com/UstwhmixoO
— Jack Sommers (@shoewizard59) June 11, 2023

Andrew Chafin came in to try to close the 9th inning but gave up a leadoff triple to Andy Ibanez and issued a one out walk before Torey Lovullo pulled him in favor of Scott McGough. McGough, working with the luxury of a two-run lead instead of one, was aggressive and went right after the final two Tigers hitters. He struck out Javier Baez and got Maton to ground out to second to end the game.

The D-backs finish the road trip 5-0, and head back to Arizona tonight to begin a seven game home stand with four games against the Phillies. First pitch on Monday is 6:40 P.M. Arizona time. Tommy Henry will start for the Diamondbacks, while the Phillies starter is still listed as TBD as of this writing.