Christian Walker hit two home runs, Zac Gallen pitched five excellent innings, and the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Texas Rangers 6-0 on Tuesday night.
Arizona (81-64) is now half a game behind San Diego (82-64) for the top National League wild card spot. The Braves and Mets (both 79-66) are two games behind the Diamondbacks and are tied for the last playoff spot.
Texas is seven games behind for the final American League wild card with 17 games remaining and needs to catch up with five other teams.
Joc Pederson and Walker hit back-to-back solo home runs in the first inning, giving Arizona a 2-0 lead. Walker homered again in the third inning, hitting it to the opposite field for the second time in the game, to extend Arizona’s lead to 4-0.
“Chase is a big park, so it’s nice to know you can still be rewarded that way,” Walker said. “Sometimes it feels like you’ve got to crush it pull side and really get ahold of it to hit it out. It’s nice to put a clean swing on a ball, hit it in the air, hit it hard and be rewarded.”
Walker hit these two homers since returning on September 3 from an oblique injury, bringing his season total to 25. He also made a great defensive play by catching a fly ball over his shoulder in short right field.
Gallen (12-6) allowed just two hits and two walks while striking out seven in his second strong start in a row. He had previously thrown six hitless and scoreless innings in a win over the Giants on September 4.
“This is usually a game of runs,” Gallen said. “When you’re feeling good, you’re trying to harness it and stay hot for as long as you can. That’s kind of what I’m doing.”
The Diamondbacks’ bullpen, consisting of Kevin Ginkel, Ryan Thompson, A.J. Puk, and Justin Martinez, gave up only one hit over four innings.
