Snake Pit Sim Season: 6/16 - Sweet Revenge

As ugly as the previous game was, this game served notice that the Diamondbacks are still a teamed to be reckoned with. After losing 11-2 the previous night, the Diamondbacks sent Zac Gallen to the mound to face off against the Dodger’s Clayton Kershaw. Gallen had one of the best outings of his career. Arizona saw to it that Kershaw had one of the worst.

The Diamondbacks jumped out to an early lead to give Gallen a bit of breathing room. Starling Marte led off the game with a double. Two strikeouts later, Marte scored on a single by Carson Kelly. Starling Marte was at it again when he led off the third inning. This time, he took a 2-2 pitch and hit it 399 feet into the stands in right center.

The floodgates opened in the fourth inning. Nick Ahmed started the inning off with a single. One out later, Ryan Mountcastle was first pitch swinging. He launched a double into left, sending Ahmed to third. Zac Gallen then chipped a grounder through the 5.5 hole to score Ahmed and put runners on the corners. That brought up Starling Marte, a man determined to abuse Kershaw. Starling Marte put a swinging bunt on a pitch, grounding towards third. By the time Justin Turner was able to charge in and field the ball, Mountcastle scored, Gallen took second, and Marte was safe at First. David Peralta then lined a single into left center to load the bases, bringing up Ketel Marte. Marte struck out swinging, bringing up Carson Kelly with the bases juiced and two out. Kelly continued to add to his candidacy for the all-star game by singling home both Gallen and Starling Marte with a line drive to right. That was enough for Virtual Dave Roberts. The Dodgers’ manager went out and took the ball from the battered lefty and brought in Ross Stripling. Kershaw lasted only 3 ²⁄₃ innings. Stripling, followed by Brusdar Graterol, both gave up another run each getting the Dodgers to the ninth inning. Zach McAllister pitched the ninth inning for Los Angeles. He was the only pitcher to not give up a run.

While the Arizona offense was getting their licks in against Kershaw and the Dodgers, Gallen was cruising along. The young right-hander completed eight innings of shutout ball, striking out seven. and allowing only two hits and one walk in the process.

Final Score: AZ 9 - LAD 2

The player of the game was Zac Gallen. Gallen’s outing was a thing of beauty. At only 103 pitches after eight innings, thre waas some hope that he would be given the opportunity to record the complete game shutout. However, Virtual Torey Lovullo had other ideas.

The win brings the Diamondbacks one game closer to catching the Dodgers for the NL West lead. The teams will meet again tomorrow when Luke Weaver will take on Walker Buehler.