The A’s are limited to one hit in Zac Gallen’s return from IL

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen throws against the Oakland Athletics in the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

PHOENIX (AP) — Zac Gallen returned from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for a month to throw six innings of shutout ball in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 3-0 win over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday.

Ketel Marte had three hits and drove in a run to help the Diamondbacks snap a three-game losing streak.

Galen (6-4) left his previous outing on May 30 at the New York Mets after dealing with a bunt. He was diagnosed with a strained right hamstring and was placed on the injured list.

Gallen threw 77 pitches and 50 for strikes against Oakland. He walked one and struck out seven. The only hit against him was Brent Rooker’s single in the first. Oakland’s only other hit came in the seventh.

Last season, Gallen went 17-9 with a 3.47 ERA in leading the Diamondbacks to the World Series. He was the starting pitcher for the National League in the All-Star Game and finished third in NL Cy Young voting.

Kevin Ginkel pitched two innings, allowing one hit, and Paul Sewald worked the ninth for his 11th save.

Marte, honored Saturday with a bobblehead giveaway that drew 39,843 to Chase Field, drove in Arizona’s first run with a two-out single in the second inning.

Three singles in the third, capped by Jake McCarthy’s two-out hit, made it 2-0. Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s RBI double ended Hogan Harris’ outing. Harris (1-2) gave up 10 hits but just three runs as Arizona stranded two runners in each of the first four innings. The Diamondbacks were stranded 11 times in the game.

Osvaldo Bido pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings for Oakland in Harris’ place.

In the first inning, Christian Walker’s fly ball down the left field line hit close to the yellow liner in fair territory was called a foul ball. Replay overturned the call and gave Walker a double, but Gurriel, running from first with two outs, was sent back to third. Randal Grichuk fouled out to end the inning.

With the loss, the A’s fell to 7-19 in June and have lost 16 of their last 20 games. Oakland snapped an 11-game losing streak with a 9-4 win at Chase Field on Friday night.

NEXT

Oakland RHP Luis Medina (1-3, 5.25) was scheduled to face RHP Brandon Pfaadt (3-6, 4.45) Sunday in the series finale.