PHOENIX -- This is why the D-backs re-signed Zac Gallen.
When he’s at the top of his game, he can anchor a rotation and even outduel a two-time Cy Young Award winner.
Making his first home start since returning to Arizona, Gallen hurled six scoreless innings to lead the D-backs to a 1-0 win over Tarik Skubal and the Tigers in Wednesday’s series finale.
It’s the fourth time the D-backs have swept their season-opening home series. It came at an opportune time, too, pushing them back to .500 after an 0-3 start.
Mostly leaning on his four-seamer, knuckle-curve and slider, Gallen allowed just four hits, walked none and struck out two. He threw 15 first-pitch strikes and effectively pitched to contact, needing 88 pitches to get through his six frames.
“As the game went on, [Gabriel Moreno] and I got into a really good rhythm of just mixing, and I just felt like I had pretty good command of everything for the most part,” Gallen said. “We just tried to be in the strike zone with everything and make them have to make a decision on whether to swing or not.”
The D-backs placed an increased emphasis on their defense in Spring Training and it’s paying big dividends so far. Through six games, they are tied with the Dodgers for the MLB lead in defensive runs saved (8).
It was especially apparent in the late innings.
In the sixth, Jose Fernandez – who earned his first start at first base after his two-homer debut – snared a line drive and quickly fired to third base to complete a double play.
In the eighth, second baseman Ildemaro Vargas ranged to his right for a back-hand stop and made a jump throw to first for the second out.
Nolan Arenado started a double play in the ninth after smothering a tough in-between hop, showing why he’s a 10-time Gold Glove third baseman.
“Those are the things we’re built on, the pitching and defense,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “That’s music to my ears and clearly we’re going to have days like this. We’re going to run into someone like Skubal that’s going to throw up as many zeros as he did.”
One mistake to Corbin Carroll is all the D-backs needed, though. In the first inning, Carroll deposited an 0-2 fastball into the left-field bleachers to plate the game’s only run.
He became just the sixth lefty to homer off Skubal, continuing his torrid start to the season.
Through six games, Carroll has two homers, a 1.162 OPS and a team-high eight RBIs, putting to rest any concerns that the hamate injury he suffered in the spring would slow him down this season.
“Yeah, it feels good,” he said. “I've been happy with my swings the last couple days. Feel like I've got some good cues right now that are just clicking and I'm gonna work hard to keep that going forward.”