D-backs’ Greinke terrific again in rained out start; Dyson progressing

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The record books won’t show it, but the Arizona Diamondbacks played a spring training baseball game against the Texas Rangers Tuesday night.

It definitely happened. There were lots of witnesses.

But because the game was rained out in the top of the fifth inning, the four-plus innings and its statistics will not count.

The takeaway from the Cactus League game that never happened was D-backs ace Zack Greinke continuing his scoreless inning streak, a streak that didn’t actually continue because the game never happened, of course.

In a world where we can act like the game did occur, Greinke threw over four scoreless innings, making it three spring outings and over eight total innings he has not given up a run. The 35-year-old has allowed six baserunners over that time.

“Great outing for Zack,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. “The fastball command, the fastball velocity probably exactly where he wants it. Looks like it’s midseason form for me. And his secondary stuff is perfect.”

Greinke was perfect through 4.0 innings and the only batters that reached were Joey Gallo on a walk and Ronald Guzman on a single in the fifth.

When Guzman singled, the game was called, along with its existence.

In another timeline, we find out if Greinke keeps the scoreless streak alive with two outs and runners on first and second. We, however, are not in that timeline.

When Greinke was asked if he cared if the statistics were documented, he was wonderfully honest.

“Yeah,” he said to laughter from the assembled media. “I have a zero ERA right now in spring. Wasting all my good luck, though, probably.”

DYSON BACK TO FULL SPEED

In addition to bringing in outfielder Adam Jones, the D-backs got more good news from that position on Tuesday.

Jarrod Dyson’s first day going at full speed will be on Wednesday after he’s had surgeries in his lower core end his seasons back-to-back years.

“I’m just gonna be happy to be back out there,” he said before the game Tuesday. “I’m not gonna try to do too much.”

Dyson had double hernia surgery in 2017 while a member of the Seattle Mariners and a right abductor muscle last year was where he had a procedure done.

Last year, in particular, Dyson risked re-injuring himself in attempting to come back during rehab stints instead of being shut down for the season. He did just that.

Dyson said this past injury was more difficult to come back from than the last one.

“The second injury, you sit down, you think about everything, but at the same time you’ve got to work hard and stay positive,” he said. “And that’s the most important part when you have (a) season-ending injury.”

The 34-year-old played in 67 games last year, hitting .189 at the plate.

When he was signed in February of 2018, Lovullo spoke highly of the value Dyson provided. Viewed as a “fourth outfielder” to most, Lovullo called Dyson much more than that, elevating his role beyond a “backup” and what he can bring.

Lovullo backed up that statement again a year later on Tuesday after the game.

“Same as last year,” he said. “He’s more than a fourth outfielder. He’s gonna get a lot of playing time. I think I said earlier in the spring that we missed his presence late in the season last year.”

What Dyson brings is speed and defense, two specialties the D-backs can still use plenty of in 2019.

“(He) makes plays that others can’t,” Lovullo said. “He gives you a quality at-bat, he adds speed to a lineup that typically doesn’t have a huge amount of speed so he’s a pretty impressive player that’s gonna fit in to what we need to get done here.”

Arizona Sports’ Spencer Kietzman contributed to this story.

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