PHOENIX – 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 back of the last AL wild card with 17 games remaining and must defeat five teams.
Joc Pederson and Walker hit back-to-back solo home runs in the first to give the D-backs a 2-0 lead. Walker hit another home run in the third – hitting the other side of the field for the second consecutive game – to give Arizona a 4-0 lead.
Walker has 25 home runs after returning from an oblique injury on September 3.
Gallen (12-6) allowed just two hits and two walks and had 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.
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 Tuesday, allowing four runs and seven hits in five innings, with one walk and six strikeouts.
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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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
