Diamondbacks and Zac Gallen struggle against Braves and Chris Sale at Chase Field

Over their last nine games, the Arizona Diamondbacks had played well enough to remain undefeated. Their only losses came in three games in which their closer blew a save.

That streak ended Tuesday night. The Diamondbacks lost, and Paul Sewald had nothing to do with it. Their offense couldn’t hit hard against a tough pitcher. Their ace, Zac Gallen, struggled for parts of his outing, then was probably benched a little too long. Their defense wasn’t very effective.

The Diamondbacks were one strike away from breaking .500 on Monday night. After a 6-2 loss to Chris Sale and the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night at Chase Field, they’re two games away from winning again and will have to work hard to salvage any part of this four-game series over the next two days.

Gallen needed 90 pitches to complete five innings, and after striking out Austin Riley to open the sixth, he then allowed back-to-back hits that put runners on the corners with his pitch count at 102.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo, whose team trailed 2-0, had reliever Thyago Vieira warming up but opted to keep Gallen in to face the Braves’ Adam Duvall. The move backfired. Gallen, who relied heavily on his curveball all night, used it twice on three pitches he threw to Duvall. The second, which came on an 0-2 count, was back in the zone, and Duvall launched it into the left-field seats for a three-run home run.

Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte dropped a fly ball in the second inning, an error that allowed a run to score. Earlier in the inning, the Braves got a run on a groundout that could have been an inning-ending double play if it hadn’t been for a passed ball by catcher Gabriel Moreno, an error that allowed a runner to advance from first to second base.

Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks didn’t do much against Sale, the Braves’ veteran left-hander. They loaded the bases in the first inning, forcing Sale to throw 29 pitches, but came away empty-handed. They also had two batters on base with two outs in the third inning, but didn’t score. Sale struck out left-handed hitter Jake McCarthy to end both innings.

Sale gave up two runs in 5 1/3 innings. Both runs came in the sixth inning, after the Braves had already scored five runs.

Wednesday’s Diamondbacks-Braves pitching game

Braves vs. Diamondbacks, 6:40 p.m., Cox Ch. 34

Diamondbacks right-handed pitcher Slade Cecconi (2-6, 6.10 ERA) against Braves right-handed pitcher Charlie Morton (5-5, 3.96 ERA).

At Chase Field: The Diamondbacks could opt to use an opener for Cecconi, who has been poor for months now. After impressing in his first two starts earlier this year, he has a 7.02 ERA since the start of May. … In seven starts since the start of June, Cecconi has gotten out of the fifth inning just once, putting a strain on the Diamondbacks bullpen. … He continues to struggle to get outs the second time through opposing orders. … Morton, 40, is defying his age again this year. He still strikes out more than one batter per inning, and his ERA is no fluke. … He still averages 94 mph on his four-seam fastball, just below his peak. His best pitch is a curveball that strands opponents 34 percent of the time. … He allowed three earned runs in 5 1/3 innings against the Giants last time out.

Future

THURSDAY: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m.: Diamondbacks right-handed pitcher Brandon Pfaadt (3-6, 4.19) against Braves left-handed pitcher Max Fried (7-4, 3.18).

Friday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks right-handed pitcher Ryne Nelson (6-6, 5.08) against Blue Jays right-handed pitcher Yariel Rodriguez (1-3, 3.68).

SATURDAY: At Chase Field, 7:10 p.m., Diamondbacks right-handed pitcher Yilber Diaz (0-0, 1.50 ERA) against Blue Jays right-handed pitcher Jose Berrios (8-6, 3.76 ERA).

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