Poor Pitching Turns Diamondbacks Game 3 vs Dodgers to Ugly Blowout

The Arizona Diamondbacks were blown out by the Los Angeles Dodgers by a score of 15-0 on Wednesday night, falling behind 1-2 in the four-game series.

Wednesday night's game was always going to be one of the tougher matchups for Arizona, with Shohei Ohtani on the mound for Los Angeles and a struggling Zac Gallen going for the Diamondbacks.

Unfortunately for Gallen and Arizona, the game began to unravel more quickly than anticipated. A two-run homer from Kyle Tucker in the second inning set the tone for what would become a long, difficult game for the D-backs' pitching staff.

Arizona's offense collected just two base hits, and was held almost entirely off the bases.

Zac Gallen struggles vs Dodgers

May 23, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen (23) prepares to throw a pitch against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Anna Carrington-Imagn Images | Anna Carrington-Imagn Images

Gallen came into Wednesday night's game with an ugly 5.16 ERA, inflated a bit from a rough performance against the Seattle Mariners his last time out. He came out of his showdown with the Dodgers with five more runs (four earned) in five innings and a 5.32 ERA.

The righty got through the first inning without much trouble. But for as auspicious a start as that may have been, the night quickly turned sour.

It began with a throwing error by Geraldo Perdomo on a routine ground ball in the second inning. With Mookie Betts aboard at first base, Gallen served a center-cut fastball to Tucker, which was sent deep to right field. He gave up three more runs in a lopsided third inning one frame later.

On the night, Gallen gave up a staggering nine base hits and two walks, and allowed a three-run inn. He only managed to record one strikeout on the night. Hopes of a resurgent 2026 season are quickly diminishing for Arizona's former ace.

Righty Taylor Clarke threw a scoreless sixth inning in relief of Gallen, with Brandon Pfaadt entering the seventh inning behind him. Despite Pfaadt's ever-shifting role, the D-backs tried to get him through multiple innings — unfortunately, he was unable to do so.

Pfaadt gave up two runs on two hits, a walk and a hit-by-pitch in the seventh, extending the Dodgers' lead to 7-0. He came back for the eighth, but issued a walk and another hit without recording an out, and was lifted for Ryan Thompson.

Thompson stranded Pfaadt's baserunners, but loaded the bases in the ninth and had to be pulled with two outs for Jonathan Loaisiga, who prevented further damage.

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