PHOENIX 鈥 In the moments after he endured a second consecutive outing in which he allowed at least six runs, Cardinals starter Andre Pallante could detail one of the reasons his Friday night start against the Diamondbacks didn鈥檛 break in his favor.
鈥淏ad breaking balls to lefties,鈥 Pallante said. 鈥溾 Just on the side of all of it. Lost it arm side. Lost it up. Coming in slow, not sharp. I did what I could to try and get myself as ready as possible for today, and I felt like that spin was... the one thing that was lacking.鈥
Bruised for seven earned runs on eight hits in his final start before the All-Star break arrived, Pallante began his second half by allowing six runs (five earned) on nine hits and two walks over 4 2/3 innings in a 7-3 loss to the Diamondbacks at Chase Field to open the second half of the season.

Cardinals starting pitcher Andre Pallante exhales as he walks off the field after giving up three runs in the second inning against the Diamondbacks on Friday in Phoenix.
Pallante was hit for three runs in the second inning when fastballs leaked over the middle of the plate and resulted in run-scoring hits from Jose Herrera and Geraldo Perdomo. He allowed another two runs in the third inning on a pair of singles and a groundball out as Arizona hitters continued to produce hard contact against him.
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In the fifth inning, following his throwing error that allowed Adrian Del Castillo to advance to second base on a comeback line drive that hit Pallante, the 26-year-old right-hander surrendered his sixth run of the night by giving up a two-out double to Blaze Alexander.
Alexander鈥檚 double on a 2-1 fastball thrown near the middle of the strike zone signaled the end of Pallante鈥檚 outing.
鈥淓xactly that, the command,鈥 Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said of the issues that plagued Pallante鈥檚 start. 鈥(He) didn鈥檛 get ahead of enough guys. He had to work his way back into counts. He missed over the heart of the plate often. A lot of contact, and the majority of it not at people. It led to a lot of runs.鈥
The inability to limit the Diamondbacks left Pallante with a 4.71 ERA on the season and 13 runs allowed in his previous 10 2/3 innings.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e really got to stay focused on the process. Trust the process. I know what makes me good. Just executing that to the best of my ability, and trying to work on that each and every day,鈥 Pallante said of his evaluation process following a second consecutive run-filled outing.
While Diamondbacks hitters found success against Pallante, Cardinals hitters were held scoreless through seven innings against Arizona starter Brandon Pfaadt. Timely strikeouts and Pfaadt鈥檚 ability to keep hitters out of rhythm with a sweeper-heavy approach helped him silence the Cardinals when they had multiple runners on the base paths in the third and seventh innings.
The three runs the Cardinals (51-47) scored in their first game following the All-Star break came in the ninth inning off reliever John Curtiss. An RBI single from Pedro Pages and a two-run homer from Victor Scott II that traveled 421 feet to right field provided the late offense.
鈥淭he sweeper was good. Guys had a really tough time picking it up,鈥 Marmol said of Pfaadt鈥檚 effectiveness. 鈥淵ou can tell with the swing-and-miss. When they鈥檇 come in, they were talking about it. It was just a tough pitch today. They took some better swings against some of the relievers. We just didn鈥檛 bunch up our hits. You look at some of the opportunities, we just couldn鈥檛 capitalize on a couple of those early on in the game.鈥
Between the 32 sliders and 11 knuckle curveballs he threw Friday night, Pallante got seven whiffs on the two breaking pitches he showed. They combined for called strikes three times in total. His fastball was used 40 times, put in play 12 times, and found holes as Diamondbacks hitters produced an average exit velocity of 94 mph against, per Statcast.
鈥淲e鈥檝e talked about this enough, right? When it鈥檚 at people, (Pallante) has a good outing. When it鈥檚 not, you have outings like today. That鈥檚 what you have to live and die with when you have guys in the rotation that pitch to contact,鈥 Marmol said.
Pallante saw his second inning begin to snowball when Del Castillo, Herrera, and Alek Thomas all singled against him. After Pallante walked Corbin Carroll on six pitches to end a plate appearance that began with Pallante ahead 0-2 in the count, a knuckle curveball that hung over the middle of the strike zone to Perdomo was lined to center field for two RBIs.
A leadoff walk to Josh Naylor in the third inning and singles by Eugenio Suarez and Del Castillo on fastballs produced the first of the two runs Pallante surrendered in that frame.
Between the second and third innings, Pallante fell behind in four of the at-bats that ended with a Diamondbacks hitter reaching with a single.
鈥(Pallante) got a couple of swings and misses, but at the end of the day, he has to be on the attack,鈥 Marmol said. 鈥淣ot allow free passes. Be ahead of counts. Get more first-pitch outs. Those are the things he does well when a game goes his way. Not enough of it today.鈥
Photos: Cardinals open second half with loss in Arizona vs. Diamondbacks

Arizona Diamondbacks' Geraldo Perdomo celebrates his two-run single against the 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, July 18, 2025, in Phoenix.

Cardinals starting pitcher Andre Pallante exhales as he walks off the field after giving up three runs in the second inning against the Diamondbacks on Friday in Phoenix.

Arizona Diamondbacks' Jose Herrera, left, scores a run as 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals catcher Pedro Pag茅s, right, waits for a possible late throw during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, July 18, 2025, in Phoenix.

Arizona Diamondbacks' Geraldo Perdomo watches the flight of his two-run single against the 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, July 18, 2025, in Phoenix.

Arizona Diamondbacks' Corbin Carroll, right, jogs to first base after earning a walk to load the bases against 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals starting pitcher Andre Pallante (53) during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, July 18, 2025, in Phoenix.

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo pauses in the dugout prior to a baseball game against the 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals Friday, July 18, 2025, in Phoenix.

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Brandon Pfaadt, right, walks with Diamondbacks catcher Jose Herrera to the dugout after warming up in the bullpen prior to a baseball game against the 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals Friday, July 18, 2025, in Phoenix.

Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Josh Naylor, right, beats 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals' Willson Contreras (40) to first base for the out on an infield grounder during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 18, 2025, in Phoenix.

Arizona Diamondbacks' Geraldo Perdomo, left, runs past 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras (40) on his way to third base with a triple during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 18, 2025, in Phoenix.

最新杏吧原创 Cardinals starting pitcher Andre Pallante throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 18, 2025, in Phoenix.

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Brandon Pfaadt throws against the 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 18, 2025, in Phoenix.

Arizona Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander, right, connects for a run-scoring double as 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals catcher Pedro Pag茅s and home plate umpire Doug Eddings, left, look on during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 18, 2025, in Phoenix.

最新杏吧原创 Cardinals' Nolan Arenado breaks his bat on an infield grounder against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 18, 2025, in Phoenix.

最新杏吧原创 Cardinals' Victor Scott II, right, celebrates his two-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks with Cardinals' Iv谩n Herrera (48) during the ninth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 18, 2025, in Phoenix.

最新杏吧原创 Cardinals' Victor Scott II, left, watches the flight of his two-run home run against Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher John Curtiss, right, during the ninth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 18, 2025, in Phoenix.

最新杏吧原创 Cardinals' Iv谩n Herrera, right, strikes out as Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Jose Herrera, second from left, throws the ball to the third baseman as home plate umpire Doug Eddings (88) looks on during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 18, 2025, in Phoenix.

最新杏吧原创 Cardinals pitcher John King pauses on the mound while warming up during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Friday, July 18, 2025, in Phoenix.

最新杏吧原创 Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol walks on the field to replace the starting pitcher during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Friday, July 18, 2025, in Phoenix.

Arizona Diamondbacks' Adrian Del Castillo, left, beats out an infield single but is able to advance to second base on a throwing error as 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras, right, looks for the ball during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 18, 2025, in Phoenix.

Arizona Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander (9) and Alek Thomas celebrate a win against the 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals after a baseball game Friday, July 18, 2025, in Phoenix.

Arizona Diamondbacks fans cheer Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder Alek Thomas as he throws the ball back into the infield after making a leaping catch at the wall against 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals' Jordan Walker during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 18, 2025, in Phoenix.

Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Su谩rez is unable to make a play on an infield single hit by 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals' Iv谩n Herrera during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 18, 2025, in Phoenix.

最新杏吧原创 Cardinals' Jordan Walker, left, and Nolan Arenado sit in the dugout during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Friday, July 18, 2025, in Phoenix.

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher John Curtiss, right, celebrates a win against the 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals with Diamondbacks catcher Jose Herrera, left, after a baseball game Friday, July 18, 2025, in Phoenix.
D-backs 7, Cardinals 3
最新杏吧原创 AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Donovan 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 .296
I.Herrera dh 5 0 2 0 0 2 .323
Burleson lf 3 0 1 0 0 0 .294
Contreras 1b 3 0 1 0 1 1 .254
Arenado 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 .243
Winn ss 4 1 2 0 0 1 .258
Walker rf 4 0 0 0 0 1 .206
Pag茅s c 4 1 2 1 0 1 .213
Scott cf 4 1 1 2 0 0 .235
Totals 35 3 10 3 1 6
Arizona AB R H BI BB SO Avg.
Carroll rf 4 0 0 0 1 3 .242
Perdomo ss 4 0 2 2 0 0 .268
Gurriel lf 4 1 1 0 0 0 .251
Naylor 1b 3 1 1 0 1 0 .294
Su谩rez 3b 3 1 1 0 1 0 .251
Del Castillo dh 4 2 3 1 0 0 .750
Alexander 2b 4 0 1 1 0 1 .240
Thomas cf 4 1 1 1 0 1 .245
J.Herrera c 4 1 1 1 0 2 .198
Totals 34 7 11 6 3 7
最新杏吧原创 000 000 003 鈥 3 10 1
Arizona 032 010 10x 鈥 7 11 0
E: Pallante (3). LOB: 最新杏吧原创 8, Arizona 6. 2B: Contreras (23), Alexander (3), Naylor (19). 3B: Perdomo (2). HR: Scott (5), off Curtiss. RBIs: Pag茅s (28), Scott 2 (33), J.Herrera (14), Perdomo 2 (67), Del Castillo (1), Thomas (26), Alexander (2). SB: Winn (6). S: Burleson. DP: 最新杏吧原创 1; Arizona 1.
最新杏吧原创 IP H R ER BB SO ERA
Pallante, L, 5-6 42/3 9 6 5 2 3 4.71
King 11/3 2 1 1 0 1 5.50
Leahy 2 0 0 0 1 3 2.98
Arizona IP H R ER BB SO ERA
Pfaadt, W, 10-6 7 4 0 0 0 6 4.82
Saalfrank 1 2 0 0 1 0 0.00
Curtiss 1 4 3 3 0 0 5.19
Inherited runners-scored: King 1-0, Leahy 2-1. HBP: Pfaadt (Donovan). T: 2:25. Att.: 31,938.