The Baltimore Orioles defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-1 on Monday, April 7, 2025, at Chase Field, improving to 5-6 on the season. Zach Eflin pitched six strong innings to earn the win, moving to 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA, while Arizona’s Zac Gallen took the loss, falling to 1-2 with a 5.28 ERA. The victory snapped a back-and-forth start for the Orioles, who sit fourth in the AL East, while the Diamondbacks, also 5-6, remain fourth in the NL West.
The Orioles jumped ahead in the first inning when Ryan O’Hearn hit a solo home run off Gallen, his first of the season, giving Baltimore a 1-0 lead. They added another run in the third on a Cedric Mullins sacrifice fly that scored Gunnar Henderson, who had doubled earlier. The game broke open in the fifth, with Henderson scoring on a wild pitch and Ryan Mountcastle driving in two more with a single, pushing the lead to 5-1. Arizona’s lone run came in the fourth, when Lourdes Gurriel Jr. grounded out to score Pavin Smith, who had doubled.
Eflin was sharp for Baltimore, allowing one run on four hits over six innings, striking out one and walking none. The bullpen trio of Yennier Cano, Gregory Soto, and Félix Bautista closed out the game, combining for three scoreless innings. Cano and Soto each retired their batters efficiently, while Bautista handled the ninth in his first appearance since returning from injury, per MLB.com.
Gallen struggled for Arizona, surrendering five runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings, with four walks and two strikeouts. Relievers Ryan Thompson and Ryne Nelson provided stability, with Thompson tossing 1.1 scoreless innings and Nelson blanking the Orioles over the final three frames, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome.
Offensively, Henderson led Baltimore, going 2-for-4 with two runs and two stolen bases, raising his average to .176. O’Hearn also went 2-for-4, adding a double to his homer, while Mountcastle’s two RBIs paced the team. For Arizona, Josh Naylor went 2-for-4 with a double, and Corbin Carroll added a double, but the Diamondbacks went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position, leaving five on base.
The Orioles capitalized on their chances, going 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position, while their lone error—a fielding miscue by Mullins—did not prove costly. Arizona played a clean game defensively, turning a double play in the fifth to limit further damage.
The game, attended by 20,333 fans under partly cloudy skies with a temperature of 82 degrees, lasted 2 hours and 25 minutes. Chase Field, known for its retractable roof and hitter-friendly dimensions, according to the Arizona Diamondbacks’ official site, saw a pitcher’s duel turn into a decisive Orioles win.
Both teams continue their series in Phoenix, with Baltimore looking to build momentum and Arizona aiming to even the score. The Orioles’ pitching depth and timely hitting could signal a turning point, while the Diamondbacks seek more consistency from their lineup and rotation.
