This game was closer than it looked. But #McGoughHappens and Gallen got hurt
Record: 12-15, 135 Games Left, 4th in NL West (pending SF game)
Arizona didn’t really show up in the first with Hancock requiring 12 pitches to get three outs, including a HBP for Pederson. Unfortunately, some hurt feelings may still exist in Seattle as JOSH ROJAS HOMERED TO LEAD OFF THE BOTTOM OF THE FIRST (SEA 1-0)! Gallen then proceeded to strike out Julio and Raley then got Haniger to fly out to end the first. The only noteworthy part of Arizona’s second attempt at offense was a second consecutive inning ended with a double play… Gallen was not fooling the Mariners in the second. Only GARVER HOMERED (SEA 2-0), but all the outs were loud fly outs. The third was better for the bats! They didn’t ground into a double play! Still only 3 batters and Hancock needed only 32 pitches for all three innings though. Gallen escaped the third without giving up a run, let alone a home run! There was a scary foul ball right before the final out, but Raleigh Moreno’d it without following up with a fair version.
SEATTLE 2, ARIZONA 0
This is going to shock you, but Gurriel grounded into his second double play of the game for the first two outs of the fourth… The Varsho Trade’s double play downside continues to rear it’s ugly head. Despite not being of the inning-ending variety, nothing else happened in the innings other than making Hancock throw 20+ pitches. Gallen had his first three up three down inning in the fourth which was a nice break. It also helped keep a horribly mic’d interview with Carroll’s parents blissfully short. No double plays in the fifth! No runs either, but silver lining, Carroll smoked a ball right at the second baseman to end the inning – it was very 2023-esque. KEVIN NEWMAN HIT A SOLO HOME RUN TO LEAD OFF THE SIXTH (SEA 2-1)! Take that double plays! No additional runs were scored, but the offense was less of a limp noodle (Marte was called out on strikes by the ump zone which was extra large for both sides all night). So…. Then the bottom of the sixth happened. Gallen got hurt. Not known what kind. Hamstring tightness. Then McGough came in and gave up a GRAND SLAM TO MITCH HANIGER (SEA 6-1). Amazingly, no one else scored despite McGough.
SEATTLE 6, ARIZONA 1
Thornton pitched the seventh for Seattle. He was quite effective with the large zone the ump provided. Martinez took the seventh for Arizona. Against all odds, he pitched a scoreless frame (he didn’t even need the strikezone, Seattle just sort of swung at a bunch). Something called Bolton pitched next for the Mariners. He pitched well. Luckily so did Martinez! Bolton stayed in the game to close it out. He got a little wild, but did so without serious issue.
SEATLLE 6, ARIZONA 1 – DIAMONDBACKS LOSE
Conclusion
It was not a good game. The offense was shut down by the most recent Seattle young arm to come up in Emerson Hancock. If you take nothing else from this game – Gallen got hurt.
Comment of the Night
None tonight. It was already pretty bleh when Gallen got hurt. From there it spiraled into a cesspool of reactions, none of which I care to highlight. Feel free to peruse if you so choose by clicking on the link.
FanGraphs
Up Next
Arizona’s Slade Cecconi (1-0,, 3.00 ERA) will face off against Seattle’s George Kirby (2-2, 5.33 ERA but is coming off a start in Coors Field where he gave up zero runs in 5 innings) at 6:40pm Arizona Time.