SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Kevin Gausman and three relievers combined on a three-hitter, and the San Francisco Giants ended pitcher Zac Gallen’s record-setting streak to begin his career, beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-2 on Monday night.
Darin Ruf hit a two-run single in the sixth and Brandon Belt had a bases-loaded walk as the Giants won for the sixth time in eight games. Mike Yastrzemski added a pair of singles, helping San Francisco (21-21) get back to .500 for the first time since Aug. 2.
“It certainly speaks to the fight that this club has,” manager Gabe Kapler said. “The character of this team is continuing to shine through. Long way to go, lot of work left to do but certainly gratifying to get back to the .500 mark.”
The Giants did it by taking three of four from the Diamondbacks while beating a pitcher who had been on quite a roll.
Gallen had not allowed more than three earned runs in his first 23 career starts, a major league record to begin a career. The right-hander faced the minimum through five innings against the Giants before getting tagged for four runs in the sixth.
“It was just a weird outing,” Gallen said. “Even those first five innings, it seemed like I was rolling but I feel like I kind of got away with some pitches that weren’t my best stuff. In that sixth inning, I wasn’t making pitches.”
Gallen (1-1) allowed five hits in five innings. He struck out six and walked two.
“It just unraveled in a hurry,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “It was one of those situations where he was making pitches early and then I think he just made some mistakes out over the plate and they took advantage of it.”
The biggest blow came from Ruf, who entered the game as an injury replacement in the fourth when Alex Dickerson fouled a ball off his right knee. Ruf looked at two pitches to complete Dickerson’s at-bat, but didn’t swing. He did in the sixth, singling up the middle on Gallen’s first pitch.
After Donovan Solano singled to load the bases, Arizona reliever Junior Guerra walked Belt to force in a run and make it 4-1.
Gausman (3-2) struck out nine in six innings to win his second straight. Gausman allowed one run and two hits, and retired nine of the last 10.
“To be honest it was kind of a grind from the get go,” Gausman said. “I didn’t really have that extra gear on my fastball and I wasn’t able to put it where I normally am. We definitely had to mix a little more today. Those are the days that you have to be able to buckle down and get some big outs in big situations.”
David Peralta homered off Sam Coonrod leading off the ninth for Arizona. Ketel Marte also had an RBI.
QUOTABLE
“It was a pretty cool run. Maybe it was meant to be, to end on number 23. To keep up that streak was going to be nearly impossible. All the other streaks come to an end at some point.” – Gallen on the end of his streak
MATHISEN DEBUT
Diamondbacks third baseman Wyatt Mathisen went 0 for 4 with a pair of strikeouts in his major league debut after logging 649 games in the minors. “He’s worked hard to deserve this moment,” Lovullo said. “In my small discussions with him, he’s transformed his body, he’s made himself a totally different player than he was several years ago. It’s a lot of hard work that he’s putting in behind the scenes when nobody’s really paying attention.”
ROSTER MOVE
The Giants released INF Abiatal Avelino. Avelino had been at the alternate training site.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Giants: Dickerson left in the fourth with a bruised right knee after fouling a ball off it. X-rays were negative. … 3B Evan Longoria was scratched from the original lineup as a precaution because he is dealing with some soreness in his right glute. Pablo Sandoval started in his place. ... LHP Drew Smyly, sidelined by a sprained index finger on his pitching hand, could be ready to be activated as soon as Wednesday or Thursday. RHP Jeff Samardzija may face hitters one more time to increase his volume before being deemed ready to return from inflammation in his throwing shoulder. ... Both Smyly and Samardzija could come back as starters before the season ends, nothing determined yet. … Kapler said RHP Trevor Cahill is OK after dealing with a right hip issue and is on track to make his next start.
UP NEXT
Diamondbacks: RHP Luke Weaver (1-6, 7.44) tries to snap his three-game losing streak Tuesday against the Dodgers. Weaver’s command has improved, with only five walks over his previous six starts.
Giants: RHP Logan Webb (2-3, 4.71) pitches against Seattle on Tuesday night. Webb has taken the loss in three of his previous five starts.
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