Tensions Flare Between Diamondbacks and Tigers

Tensions flared between Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty and the Diamondbacks during the seventh inning of Saturday’s loss. That beef likely stemmed from the way that both starting pitchers treated the mound during that game. Zac Gallen typically operates from the extreme third base side of the mound, with just the heel in contact with the rubber, while Flaherty has his full foot on the mound. Multiple times during the game, Gallen asked the grounds crew to fill in the mound before he pitched after Flaherty dug out a different spot.

With the Diamondbacks already dealing with injuries to Merrill Kelly and Eduardo Rodríguez, the team can ill-afford to lose Gallen for any extended stretch and stay in the playoff picture. He said that the right hamstring, which caused him to leave a previous start this season, started to feel tight around the fourth inning. It was the first time in his career that he asked the grounds crew to fix the mound during a game. He told the umpiring crew why he wanted the mound fixed and felt they were accommodating.

“You got two elite athletes that are stepping on the mound,” said Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo. “I thought Larry Vanover did a great job in allowing the mounds to temporarily be rebuilt, it was a minute-and-a-half fix. Their starting pitcher had a particular way he wanted it, Zac wanted his a certain way for him. I thought it was really well done, there were no complaints on our side from what I thought was a really good major league umpire making a really good decision and allowing it to happen. You don’t want to have athletes get injured, we know Zac has had some hamstring issues, and the last thing I want him to do is come out of that spot he was long comfortable with and get banged up, and get injured, and walk off the mound.”

“It was more of an injury concern,” said Gallen after the game. “I was having trouble getting my foot how I wanted it to. I was looking after my own health, looking out for the team. The last thing I want to do is come out of the game, potentially on the IL, I just wanted to be safe.”