PHOENIX — A common refrain from starting pitchers during the first turn of the Yankees’ rotation was that they knew they needed to keep games close to give the offense a chance to win.
Nestor Cortés saved himself from going completely off the rails again after another eventful first round.
This time, however, the Yankees’ offense was finally held in check, and the bullpen couldn’t keep it close, and the perfect start to the season ended in the sixth game.
Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen shut out the Yankees in six innings on Tuesday night at Chase Field, handing them their first loss of the season 7-0.
Against Gallen and three Diamondbacks relief pitchers, the Yankees recorded only three hits and four walks.
During the 5-0 run, which was the team’s best start since 1992, he was unable to hit at the right time, which he had been doing consistently.
The loss sets up a series rubber match on Wednesday afternoon before the Yankees finally head home for Friday’s home opener.
Even after Cortez gave up three runs in just over five innings, the Yankees still held on, falling behind 3-0 until the seventh inning.
Left-handed reliever Victor Gonzalez allowed two hits before being replaced by right-handed reliever Jake Cousins, acquired from the White Sox on Sunday.
After getting an out, Cousins allowed three runs to Christian Walker, giving the Diamondbacks a 6-0 lead.
Cousins’ lack of control resulted in an extra run in the ninth inning on a wild pitch with the bases loaded.
Similar to his opening-day start in Houston last Thursday, Cortez had a rough first inning, giving his opponent a three-run lead before finding a way to win.
Ketel Marte led the Diamondbacks with a double to the left field line, and Blaise Alexander followed with a single over center field, putting two batters on target to make it 1-0.
Cortes retired the next batter with one out, but then allowed three consecutive singles to Walker, Eugenio Suarez and Gabriel Moreno to extend the Diamondbacks’ lead to 3-0.
However, Cortez was later rescued before any further damage could be done.
With runners on the corners, Jorge Barosa made a strong bunt to first base.
Anthony Rizzo took a quick shot and put Suarez in a pickle.
He was eventually tagged out at third base, at which point Barosa circled wide around first base and another runner stood at second base.
Oswaldo Cabrera threw across the diamond, and Cortez tagged Barosa for a double play.
Cortez bounced back with two quick pitches, stranding two runners in the third and fourth innings and mowing down the middle of the Diamondbacks’ lineup in the fifth.
The Yankees had their best chance against Gallen early on, but couldn’t do anything about it.
Gleyber Torres opened the game with a walk, but it was erased by Juan Soto’s grounder into a double play.
Aaron Judge then hit a four-pitch walk, but was stranded as Rizzo grounded out.
In the second inning, with two outs, Anthony Volpe and Cabrera hit consecutive singles.
However, Jose Trevino struck out, ending the short rally.
From there, Gallen pretty much cruised, retiring 12 of the last 14 batters he faced.
In the final inning of Gallen’s job as director, Soto singled and the crowd full of Yankees fans began to buzz, believing they had seen this comeback movie before.
But Gallen quickly erased the threat by hitting Judge with a fly ball and Rizzo with a grounder.
