Gallen continues hot start, but Melancon struggles as D-backs fall to Cubs

PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen continued his spectacular begin to the season on Saturday, tossing six innings of one-run ball, however nearer Mark Melancon struggled in a 4-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Chase Discipline in Phoenix.

Gallen got here into the outing having the bottom ERA by a beginning pitcher by way of his first 5 begins at 1.06, edging Randy Johnson’s 1.24 ERA to start the 2000 season.

The 26-year-old righty allowed two hits whereas placing out 9 and strolling one on 96 pitches.

A kind of knocks was Gallen’s solely mistake of the sport, a house run within the fourth inning off the bat of Yan Gomes.

“Zac I believed had a few actually clear, good innings,” D-backs supervisor Torey Lovullo mentioned after the sport. “There have been some batters that had been a bit bit cussed which drove his pitch depend up.”

“We had been serious about getting him by way of that seventh inning however at 96 pitches, it was time so we pulled the plug.”

Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks saved the D-backs’ bats simply as silent, permitting 5 hits and one run in 5.2 innings whereas placing out two and strolling two.

Arizona opened the scoring within the second inning, as Nick Ahmed drove house Ketel Marte with a single.

Every bullpen saved the opposing groups off the board by way of the latter half of the sport.

Noe Ramirez and Joe Mantiply contributed two scoreless innings for the D-backs, whereas Scott Effross, Daniel Norris and Mychal Givens turned in 2.1 scoreless innings for the Cubs.

Melancon, after recording a save in a win in opposition to the Cubs the night prior, struggled coming right into a tie sport within the ninth inning.

Melancon allowed the primary three batters to succeed in, two walks and a single, earlier than Gomes as soon as once more got here by way of for the Windy Metropolis devoted with an RBI single to interrupt the tie.

That may be it for Melancon as he bought the hook for J.B. Wendelken, who allowed two of Melancon’s runs to attain earlier than stopping the bleeding.

“I wasn’t on the plate, that they had good strike zone consciousness,” Melancon mentioned.

Lovullo blamed Melancon’s poor outing on the effectiveness of his cutter.

“He’s bought to execute a bit higher with the command of his cutter and that’s what we’re going to speak to him about,” Lovullo mentioned.

It marked the third day trip of his final 5 outings that Melancon has allowed a run, every time coming right into a tie sport within the ninth inning.

Melancon was tagged for 3 runs in a loss to the Colorado Rockies on Could 7, and 4 runs in a loss to the Miami Marlins 4 days later.

“That is uncommon and to not go on any longer for positive. I can’t say the scenario is an element, it’s ironic,” Melancon mentioned. “That is my job, in a tie scenario … I must deal with it.”

Lovullo was not able to decide on the way forward for Melancon’s place because the group’s nearer, who left the sport with an 8.49 ERA and 5 losses on the season however having transformed on seven of eight save alternatives.

“We’re conscious of every little thing that’s occurring, we’re all having discussions about what’s going to place this group in one of the best place to win baseball video games and people discussions will proceed available over the course of the following couple of days,” Lovullo mentioned, evaluating the scenario to Fernando Rodney in 2017 who went on to avoid wasting 39 video games and assist the Diamondbacks to a Nationwide League Wild Card berth.

Melancon mentioned his head is in a great place and he’s going to remain constructive.

“I’ve all the arrogance on the planet that I’m going to bounce again and that is going to be an amazing yr,” Melancon mentioned. “It’s simply form of loopy proper now.”

The D-backs bought one run again within the backside of the ninth inning as Daulton Varsho drove house Alek Thomas with an RBI single, however Cubs reliever Rowan Wick struck out the following two batters to slam the door.

The D-backs look to win the collection on Sunday as Humberto Castellanos takes the hill for Arizona in opposition to Justin Steele.

First pitch is 1:10 p.m. and all of the motion may be heard on 620 AM and 98.7 FM HD-2.