Zac Gallen made a successful return from a month-long hamstring injury, pitching six innings of one-hit ball in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 3-0 win over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday.
Ketel Marte contributed three hits and an RBI to help the Diamondbacks break a three-game losing streak.
Gallen (6-4) had to leave his last start on May 30 against the New York Mets after facing just one batter due to a strained right hamstring that landed him on the injured list.
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo praised Gallen’s performance, saying, “He executed every pitch he needed to. It was exactly what we needed from him today. It’s inspiring to see him come back and perform like he did.”
Gallen threw 77 pitches with 50 strikes, walking one batter and striking out seven. The only hit he allowed was a two-out single to Brent Rooker in the first inning. Oakland managed only one more hit against him in the seventh.
Reflecting on his injury history, Gallen mentioned a previous hamstring issue in 2021, noting improvement in his mental readiness this time around. “Physically, I felt good, and mentally, I was better prepared to pitch,” he said.
Regarding his pitching performance, Gallen felt this start was among his best this season. “It felt very smooth compared to my previous outings,” he remarked.
A’s manager Mark Kotsay acknowledged Gallen’s effectiveness, saying, “Facing Gallen, you want to work the pitch count up, but he throws strikes and uses all his pitches. He’s a top-tier pitcher.”
Last season, Gallen posted a 17-9 record with a 3.47 ERA, playing a key role for the Diamondbacks and earning a spot as the starting pitcher for the National League in the All-Star Game.
