Gallen’s 13 Strikeouts Shine as Gurriel’s Homer Secures Diamondbacks’ Narrow Win Over Yankees 4-3

NEW YORK — Zac Gallen shone on the mound, tying his career high with 13 strikeouts and leading the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 4-3 victory over the New York Yankees on Wednesday night. Gallen stretched his scoreless streak against the Yankees to 18 2/3 innings, signaling his dominance over the team.

After a loss in his season opener against the Chicago Cubs, Gallen (1-1) rebounded effectively. He limited the Yankees to three hits without issuing a single walk. His performance featured an impressive 10 strikeouts with his signature knuckle-curve, enhancing his record to 3-0 against New York.

A.J. Puk closed the game by allowing Anthony Volpe’s three-run homer in the ninth inning but remained composed, securing his second save in as many nights by fanning Jasson Domínguez.

The Yankees struggled at the plate, accumulating 16 strikeouts during the game. Aaron Judge accounted for three of those strikeouts, highlighting New York’s offensive woes as they have struck out 30 times in the opening two games of the series.

On the other side, Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón (1-1) had a rocky start, conceding four runs, three hits, and four walks within the first two innings. Although his velocity dipped by 2.5 mph, he bounced back to pitch four scoreless innings afterward.

Arizona ignited the scoreboard early, with Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hitting a two-run homer off Rodón, taking advantage of a 0-2 fastball that soared into the left-field second deck. This marked a significant turnaround for Gurriel, who hadn’t recorded a hit in his last 34 at-bats against the Yankees.

Geraldo Perdomo contributed with a sacrifice fly in the second inning, followed by an RBI single from Ketel Marte. Shortly after, it was announced that Marte had signed a contract extension worth $116.5 million through 2031.

In a standout defensive play, Marte made an impressive stop on a line drive from Cody Bellinger while falling and managed to force out a runner from a seated position.

Looking ahead, the series finale is set to feature Yankees right-hander Carlos Carrasco (0-0) squaring off against the Diamondbacks’ Merrill Kelly (1-0). Both teams will be eager to regroup and gain momentum as the series progresses.