Few expected the Arizona Diamondbacks to emerge victorious against Milwaukee in the NL Wild Card Series, and even fewer predicted their success against the 100-win Los Angeles Dodgers in the Division Series. However, to everyone’s surprise, the young and spirited Diamondbacks, who faced a challenging conclusion to the regular season, are navigating the postseason with ease.
On Monday night, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and the Diamondbacks continued their impressive run, swiftly dispatching yet another Dodgers starter. Behind the stellar performance of Zac Gallen, they secured a 4-2 win, extending their lead to 2-0 in the NLDS.
“We’re not approaching this with any fear of losing,” declared closer Paul Sewald. “We entered as the sixth seed, and nobody expected us to win in Milwaukee. No one is favoring us against the Dodgers, given our previous struggles against them. But we’re stepping onto the field with unwavering confidence.”
The Diamondbacks, who secured the last National League wild card spot despite a four-game losing streak to end the regular season, have now achieved a flawless 4-0 record in these playoffs — all while playing away games against division champions. Although they had a challenging 5-8 record against the Dodgers in the regular season, including a five-game losing streak at the end, their hunger and determination to prove themselves are driving their success, as emphasized by Arizona manager Torey Lovullo.
The Diamondbacks will aim for a remarkable sweep of the NL West champions as the best-of-five series moves to Phoenix for Game 3 on Wednesday.
“Although it’s just two games, we’re feeling the pressure,” remarked Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “We need to make significant adjustments, as we no longer have any room for error.”
Zac Gallen delivered a strong performance, allowing only two runs over 5 1/3 innings to earn his second postseason win. Lourdes Gurriel contributed with an RBI single to cap a three-run first inning, leading to the departure of rookie starter Bobby Miller in the second.
This offensive outburst came just two nights after Los Angeles ace Clayton Kershaw endured a rough outing, allowing six runs while recording only one out in Arizona’s commanding 11-2 victory in Game 1.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. added to the Diamondbacks’ lead with a solo home run in the sixth inning, stretching their advantage to 4-1. Paul Sewald closed out the game with a perfect ninth inning, securing his third save of the postseason, and received some defensive support with a fine catch by Gurriel in left field.
Zac Gallen, in his second career postseason start, displayed remarkable consistency by retiring nine consecutive batters at one point. The 17-game winner surrendered five hits, struck out four, and issued two walks. Few expected the Arizona
The Diamondbacks’ hitters showed no fear against Bobby Miller’s blazing 100 mph fastballs in his playoff debut. They quickly loaded the bases with no outs and capitalized with a sacrifice fly from Christian Walker and an RBI groundout from Gabriel Moreno before Gurriel’s two-out single extended their lead to 3-0.
Reflecting on their success, Gallen shared, “It’s no secret that we’ve faced challenges here, but it was crucial for us mentally to come in and set the tone, demonstrating belief in ourselves.”