Zac Gallen and D-backs defense topple Red Sox at Fenway Park

The Arizona Diamondbacks won a solid game against the Red Sox at Fenway Park 4-1, winning the series and having a chance for a sweep tomorrow.

The D-backs played well as a complete group, but the highlight of the day was a stellar performance by ace Zac Gallen. Although Gallen has struggled greatly in his recent appearances, today he delivered six scoreless innings and struck out nine Red Sox batters.

Gallen went 4 1/3 innings without a single hit and ended the day with just two hits. Although he wasn’t at his best, he kept a tight grip on the game.

Gallen issued four walks, but all four came against Boston’s top-heavy 1-4 batting group. While it probably wasn’t “intentional,” the ace was clearly cautious with the dangerous Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu and Rafael Devers.

The knuckle curve was the ace’s best weapon today, with which he conceded eight of his twelve failures on the breaking ball.

Manager Torey Lovullo had high praise for his star when he spoke to Jody Jackson of D-backs TV after the game.

“I think he just had a great attitude, he was so focused and just attacked the zone. I think the fastball was at the plate, the curveball was good, there was a changeup that came into play … that was a typical Zac performance,” Lovullo said.

“He was very effective and I think it was all because of the control he had over his fastball and then the secondary things he did after that.”

Geraldo Perdomo also said Gallen’s composure was key to his performance. He acknowledged that the ace had struggled but praised his pitcher for his good performance today.

“All credit to God, but (Gallen) was the key to the game today… He’s coming back,” Perdomo said.

Arizona didn’t have much offensive power that day, but Joc Pederson and Eugenio Suárez hit two doubles against starter Kutter Crawford against the green monster and gave Gallen a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning.

Although the D-backs only managed six hits, their discipline at the plate was evident, issuing six walks against Red Sox pitchers and selflessly keeping the line moving.

In the chaotic seventh inning, Geraldo Perdomo, Luis Guillorme, Corbin Carroll and Jake McCarthy managed to force a run before a wild pitch gave the D-backs a 4-0 lead.

“We had a really great approach, good discipline at the plate. I think that was the key today … (a) lot of walks. I think that was part of the discipline that this team has. I think we’ve done a really great job the last two games with discipline at the plate,” Perdomo said.

“I think we’re really into the deep end of the game,” Lovullo said. “Our guys know what their job is. If you don’t get the pitch to the height you want, you pass it on to the next guy. I think that’s the mentality we want from everyone.”

The four-run lead was enough for the bullpen to hold out for three innings. Ryan Thompson and AJ Puk pitched scoreless innings and handed the ball over to Paul Sewald in a fairly close game, albeit without a save.

Sewald allowed a single and a double to start the inning, giving the Red Sox their only run of the day, but then struck out three in a row, underscoring the D-backs’ strong performance.

Of course, the pitchers also got some help from the defense. Perdomo dove for a ground ball up the middle in the second inning to end the inning, but the best player on defense was newcomer Luis Guillorme.

Although it was only his third game as a member of the D-backs, Guillorme’s quick hands helped him make a crucial double play to get Gallen out of the sixth inning.

But the best was yet to come. With no outs in the seventh inning, Red Sox DH Masataka Yoshida hit a 98 mph grounder into the gap. Guillorme lay down like Superman, grabbed the ball and threw it off his back, just in time to catch Yoshida at first base.

“He’s a master… They (got him) because he’s a really good defensive player. He’s also a really good teammate… That was incredible, he’s flying, he (did) the Superman. Unbelievable… That was a tough play and I’m glad he did it for the team,” Perdomo said of his new teammate.

The captain agreed with this opinion on Guillorme’s day.

“That was probably one of the best defensive plays I’ve seen all year. I’m still learning a lot about him. I know he has very good defensive skills, and it wasn’t just about getting the ball in his hands, but also about keeping his balance to get the ball to first base,” Lovullo said.

The D-backs have now won 11 of their last 12 series and won or tied 15 of their last 16 series (14-1-1).

They have also won 8 of their last 9 road games since July 2nd, compiling a 33-13 record. They have a chance to complete the road trip at 6-3 tomorrow when Merrill Kelly takes the mound at 10:35 a.m. Arizona time.