Greinke leads Diamondbacks past Pirates for 4-game sweep

Apr 25, 2019, 1:35 PM | Updated: 2:06 pm

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zack Greinke delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Thursday, April 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

PITTSBURGH — Zack Greinke and two Arizona relievers allowed five hits in a 5-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday that secured a four-game sweep for the Diamondbacks.

The shutout was the second of the season for the D-backs, who improved to 15-11 and moved into a tie for first place in the NL West. It was Arizona’s second consecutive four-game sweep in Pittsburgh and 10th straight win overall at PNC Park.

Greinke (4-1) was deceptive, not overpowering. Despite a fastball that averaged around 90 mph, he got 17 of them to go for called strikes. Greinke struck out seven in seven innings and gave up just two hits.

The Arizona offense produced five extra-base hits off Pirates starter Jameson Taillon (1-3), all of which went to right field.

Christian Walker doubled home Jarrod Dyson in the first and then scored on a Ketel Marte groundout. Walker doubled again to lead off the fourth and went home on Blake Swihart’s grounder.

Greinke tripled off the 21-foot high Clemente Wall in right to lead off the fifth, the first triple of his 16-year career. Dyson followed with another triple and scored on Eduardo Escobar’s sacrifice fly.

Taillon lasted five innings and allowed a season-high five earned runs on six hits. He struck out five.

Andrew Chafin worked around two hits in the eighth and Yoshihisa Hirano finished the shutout in the ninth.

TRAINER’S ROOM

OF Adam Jones (left hand soreness) was held out of the lineup for the second straight game.

UP NEXT

LHP Robbie Ray (0-1, 3.95 ERA) will start Friday night as the team returns to Arizona to face the Chicago Cubs after an 8-2 record on its road trip.

Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder JB Shuck leaps to make the catch on a hit by Arizona Diamondbacks' Eduardo Escobar in the seventh inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, April 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder JB Shuck hits the outfield wall after making the catch on a hit by Arizona Diamondbacks' Eduardo Escobar in the seventh inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, April 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zack Greinke delivers during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Thursday, April 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jameson Taillon delivers during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Pittsburgh, Thursday, April 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Jarrod Dyson drives in a run with a triple to right field off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jameson Taillon during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, April 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Jarrod Dyson (1) scores past Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Elias Diaz on a sacrifice fly to center by Eduardo Escobar off Pirates starting pitcher Jameson Taillon during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, April 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Elias Diaz, left, tags out Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte (4) who was attempting to score from third on a fielder's choice by Nick Ahmed off Pirates starting pitcher Jameson Taillon during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, April 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Eduardo Escobar recoils after being hit by a pitch from Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jameson Taillon during the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, April 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zack Greinke delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Thursday, April 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jameson Taillon delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Pittsburgh, Thursday, April 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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