7 scoreless innings, 2 hits allowed? Pfaadt has done it in 2 consecutive starts

ATLANTA – In a half-season of trials and tribulations for Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Pfaadt, perhaps the 27-year-old right-hander has hit his stride.

Pfaadt’s 5.92 ERA over his first 13 appearances (three starts) earned him a demotion to Triple-A Reno in early June. But since Pfaadt’s return to the Diamondbacks on June 30, he’s been virtually untouchable with a 7-0 record and a 1.15 ERA over those nine starts.

Pfaadt’s latest iteration of dominance happened during Friday’s 2-0 win over the Braves at Truist Park. Pfaadt delivered seven scoreless innings and allowed just two hits with seven strikeouts and no walks.

It was Pfaadt’s second consecutive start in which he went seven innings and allowed two hits, and it was the fifth time Pfaadt has done so in his career. It was the third time this season that Pfaadt has pitched seven scoreless innings, and all three of those outings have happened since he accomplished the feat for the first time on July 28 -- including his previous start.

“It felt like we had a good plan going into the game,” Pfaadt said. “I felt like we were able to execute that pretty [well]. I think [catcher Gabriel Moreno] called a great game. That’s pretty much how we planned. So that’s pretty nice to see.”

Pfaadt’s four consecutive starts in which he tossed six-plus innings with no earned runs allowed and his 32 2/3 consecutive innings without an earned run allowed are both tied for third most in D-backs history.

“I wish I could tell you what the magic potion was because I’d give it to everybody,” said manager Torey Lovullo. “It’s work ethic and it’s confidence that’s continuing to develop every single day.”

Pfaadt only threw his curveball 17 times over his 87 pitches, but the pitch produced a 56% whiff rate.

“I got a lot of swing-and-miss with [the curveball down],” Pfaadt said. “Especially late in the counts with those lefties. I think that was a big part of the game and something we didn’t really use against the Dodgers. It felt like we pitched the same [tonight as we did against the Dodgers] just with the curveball more today.”

Perhaps Pfaadt’s curveball has factored into his recent resurgence, but Pfaadt said he had his full six-pitch mix working Friday.

“We just have all six pitches working and we’re able to almost have three different game plans within one arsenal,” Pfaadt said. “I feel like when we have all six pitches working we can do that.”

Pfaadt was undaunted by Chris Sale and the National League East-leading Braves as Pfaadt outdueled Sale, the 2024 National League Cy Young and Triple Crown winner. Sale allowed one earned run on five hits over six innings.

Pfaadt didn’t get much run support, but an RBI groundout by Moreno in the top of the first was all the offense Arizona needed. Tim Tawa added a solo home run in the top of the ninth.

Arizona’s pitching staff shut out the Braves for just the eighth time this season.

“We knew what we were going up against,” Pfaadt said. “They have one of the better lineups in the league and they had one of the better pitchers in the league going tonight. We knew what we were up against and we came out and played as a team, both offensively and defensively.”

Pfaadt had some defensive help from Ryan Waldschmidt in the bottom of the fourth when Waldschmidt made a diving catch on a Matt Olson line drive that was hit 100.1 mph.

“Ever since he’s been called up he’s been making plays like that,” Pfaadt said.

As the D-backs are in a tight race for a National League Wild Card spot -- tied with the Phillies and in the third slot -- Pfaadt could be peaking at the perfect time. The D-backs are 8-1 in the last nine games Pfaadt has started.

“That’s the goal,” Pfaadt said. “That’s what I’m trying to do every five or six days is just go out there and give my team a chance to win the ballgame. I don’t care if I give up four or if we put up eight.”