ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Pitcher-on-pitcher crime: Arrieta takes Greinke way deep

Mar 23, 2017, 3:34 PM | Updated: 6:00 pm

Zack Greinke wasn’t great in his latest Cactus League start Thursday, giving up six hits and three runs while walking two Chicago Cubs at Salt River Fields.

The stat line isn’t reason for alarm, nor is it something to celebrate. For a veteran pitcher getting ready for another season, it is what it is.

But one hit that led to one run off of Greinke has the baseball world buzzing.

Greinke’s pitching counterpart, Jake Arrieta of the Cubs, led off the third inning with a home run — and it wasn’t just any home run. It was a monster shot.

Arrieta crushed a 1-2 pitch to center field to cut Arizona’s lead to 2-1.

According to MLB.com, Arrieta’s blast came on a 91-mph fastball from Greinke. It left the bat way faster.

“Yeah, it was a good one,” Greinke said after his day was done. “Not one of my better pitches, but he hit it really well.”

Arrieta is a pretty good hitting pitcher — he’s got four dingers over the last two regular seasons, which is tied with Noah Syndergaard of the Mets for the second-most among pitchers in that span. Only San Francisco’s Madison Bumgarner, with eight, has more.

Greinke wasn’t surprised by Arrieta’s power display.

“No, he did it against us last year and he had a good year hitting last year,” he said.

Arrieta had a two-run homer against Shelby Miller last April 10 — in what was his first at-bat of the season. His blast gave the Cubs a 2-0 lead in the second inning. They’d go on to win 7-3. That shot, according to ESPN’s Home Run Tracker, went 442 feet.

On the other hand, it was the first home run given up by Greinke this spring. The right-hander was making his second Cactus League start.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Blake Snell...

Associated Press

Blake Snell and San Francisco Giants agree to $62 million, 2-year contract, AP source says

Two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell and the San Francisco Giants have agreed to a $62 million, two-year contract.

1 hour ago

Zac Gallen...

Damon Allred

Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen named Opening Day starter

The Arizona Diamondbacks named Zac Gallen the starter for Opening Day on March 28 when the Colorado Rockies come to Chase Field.

3 hours ago

Merrill Kelly...

Alex Weiner

Diamondbacks’ Merrill Kelly, Zac Gallen building strong outings with Opening Day near

Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly followed Zac Gallen's scoreless outing Sunday with one of his own Monday against the Athletics.

4 hours ago

Alek Thomas, Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder...

Kevin Zimmerman

D-backs’ Alek Thomas found confidence with just 2 swings in 2023 playoffs

Two Alek Thomas home runs during the 2023 playoff run for the Arizona Diamondbacks helped build his confidence. You can guess one of them.

7 hours ago

Alek Thomas...

Alex Weiner

NL West preview: Where do the Diamondbacks fit in a new-look division?

No division was more prevalent in the news cycle than the NL West. Here's a preview of the Dodgers, D-backs, Giants, Padres and Giants.

12 hours ago

Corbin Martin...

Alex Weiner

Diamondbacks option RHPs Corbin Martin, Slade Cecconi in final week of spring training

The Diamondbacks continued to clear up roster battles by optioning pitchers Corbin Martin, Slade Cecconi and Blake Walston Triple-A.

12 hours ago

Pitcher-on-pitcher crime: Arrieta takes Greinke way deep