Zac Gallen threw six shutout innings in his first start in 11 days and Corbin Carroll had a three-run homer and five RBIs as the Arizona Diamondbacks dealt the Cincinnati Reds a sixth straight loss, 6-2 on Tuesday night.
Gallen (4-2) made his first start since April 26 when he left the game early due to a hamstring cramp. The right-hander allowed just one Reds hit through six innings, struck out six and walked three in not allowing a runner past second base.
“He got very sharp and very stubborn late,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “But at 79 pitches with the six up-downs, it was time to turn it over to the bullpen. He was great for us.”
The woes continued for the Reds, who scored just two runs in the three-game sweep by the Orioles at Great American Ball Park. With Tuesday’s loss, Cincinnati fell to three games under .500 for the first time this season.
Frankie Montas (2-3), making his first start since he was hit in the arm with a line drive April 21, allowed one earned run and four hits through six innings while striking out seven.
Carroll, who had just seven RBIs all season, drove in runs in the third and fifth innings and then, with two on in the seventh, pounded a fastball from Justin Wilson over the center field wall for his second homer of the season. Ketel Marte followed with another homer, only the second time this season Arizona has gone back-to-back.
Lovullo saw Carroll working and improving this season, but did not anticipate a five-RBI outburst from his leadoff man, who came in hitting .203.
“I probably thought something spectacular was about to happen, but five RBIs wasn’t on my bingo card,” Lovullo said. “But I know he was the right guy in the right spot. Just a lot of little things went right, but the home run was a really impressive swing.”
