Walker hits 2 home runs, Gallen dominates on the mound and the D-backs beat the Rangers 6-0

PHOENIX (AP) Christian Walker hit two home runs, Zac Gallen threw five dominant innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Texas Rangers 6-0 on Tuesday night.

Arizona (81-64) is half a game behind San Diego (82-64) in the battle for the top NL wild card, and the Braves and Mets (both 79-66) are two games behind the Diamondbacks and tied for the last playoff spot.

Texas is seven games behind with 17 games remaining and has to beat five teams.

Joc Pederson and Walker hit back-to-back solo home runs in the first to take a 2-0 lead. Walker hit another home run in the third to hit the other side of the field for the second consecutive game, giving Arizona a 4-0 lead.

“Chase is a big park, so it's nice to know you can still get rewarded that way,” Walker said. “Sometimes it feels like you have to squish the ball on the pull side and really hold on to it to knock it out. It's nice to swing a ball cleanly, hit it in the air, hit it hard and get rewarded.”

Walker hit his first two home runs since returning from an oblique injury on Sept. 3 and has already hit 25 home runs this season. The first baseman also showed a nifty defensive performance, catching a fly ball to right just over his shoulder.

Gallen (12-6) allowed two hits and two walks and struck out seven strikeouts in his second dominant start in a row. The right-hander threw six hitless, scoreless innings in a win over the Giants on Sept. 4.

“This is usually a game where you run a lot,” Gallen said. “When you feel good, you try to take advantage of that and stay good as long as possible. That's kind of what I do.”

The D-backs bullpen of Kevin Ginkel, Ryan Thompson, AJ Puk and Justin Martinez allowed just one hit in four innings.

Pavin Smith, who hit a career-high three home runs in Sunday's win over the Astros, made it 5-0 with an RBI double in the ninth inning. Jose Herrera's RBI double made it 6-0.

The Rangers were back at Chase Field for the first time since defeating the D-backs in Game 5 of the World Series on Nov. 1, deciding the first Fall Classic in franchise history.

Nathan Eovaldi (11-8), who threw six scoreless innings in the decisive fifth game, was back on the mound on Tuesday. He allowed four runs and seven hits in five innings, managed one walk and six strikeouts.

“I felt like I didn't place my fastball and splitter properly tonight, and those two pitches really cost me,” Eovaldi said. “I felt like I didn't make as many adjustments as I should have tonight. I was a little stubborn.”

Wyatt Langford had two hits and two stolen bases for the Rangers. Josh Smith had the only other hit.

TRAINING ROOM

Rangers: RHP Jacob deGrom and RHP Max Scherzer are expected to return to the starting lineup later this week. Manager Bruce Bochy said deGrom (Tommy John elbow surgery) will pitch Friday and Scherzer (shoulder) will pitch Saturday. DeGrom has not pitched at the major league level since April 28, 2023.

Diamondbacks: C Gabriel Moreno (groin) and OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (calf) continue to make progress. Manager Torey Lovullo hopes both can return before the end of the regular season.

Next

The D-backs send RHP Merrill Kelly (4-0, 4.08 ERA) to the mound on Wednesday, while the Rangers counter with LHP Cody Bradford (5-2, 3.05 ERA) in the finale of the two-game series.

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MLB players: