LOS ANGELES – After an 8-2 loss on Thursday night to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Arizona Diamondbacks are taking a long look at what Zac Gallen did right, but also what went wrong with him on MLB’s Opening Night.
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Mar 26, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen (23) throws a pitch against Los Angeles during the fifth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Zac Gallen looked exactly like Arizona’s stabilizer early on with efficient pitch sequencing and weak contact. His efforts in the beginning suggested he could neutralize a lineup anchored by Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman. Then came the fifth inning, a case study in how quickly margins collapse against championship-caliber teams.
Mar 26, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen (23) leaves the mound during a pitching change as manager Torey Lovullo (17), infielder Carlos Santana (41) and catcher Gabriel Moreno (14) look on against the Diamondbacks during the fifth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Zac Gallen gives up run in fifth inning:
Three of the Dodgers’ first four hits that inning came with two strikes. That’s not just bad luck; it’s execution failure. Two-strike pitching demands precision, either chase-inducing off-speed or elevated fastballs out of reach. Instead, Gallen left pitches hittable. Max Muncy’s single set the tone. A slow infield knock by Teoscar Hernández extended the pressure. Then, Andy Pages delivered the swing that flipped the night with a 400-foot homer.
Mar 26, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles outfielder Andy Pages (44) runs the bases after hitting a 400 foot three run home run to left center field against Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen (not pictured) during the fifth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Strategically, the Diamondbacks were already thin. Without Corbin Burnes and Merrill Kelly, Gallen isn’t just a starter; he was asked to be the tone-setter. That amplifies every mistake. The fifth inning wasn’t about his talent; it was about finishing. For D-backs fans, the takeaway is both sobering and clarifying, as against elite teams, dominance isn’t measured in innings won, but in moments closed. Arizona proved it can build a lead. The next step, one that defines contenders, is learning how to suffocate momentum before it turns.
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Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
