ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Fan of bat flips Zack Greinke wants to stick it to the Dodgers

Jun 13, 2016, 9:16 PM | Updated: Jun 15, 2016, 11:24 am

Zack Greinke must’ve really wanted to stick it to his old team.

The Diamondbacks pitcher, in his first 2016 meeting against his former Dodgers squad, made quite the impression in his first two at-bats at Chase Field on Monday. First, Greinke smacked a ball to deep center field and made quite the blatant bat flip as he began running to first.

Um, yeah, about that. Greinke’s fly ball was eventually caught.

“I knew it definitely wasn’t a homer,” Greinke told the media after the game. “Thought it was like a 50-50 chance for a double. I do it every time whether it’s an out or a hit.

“The harder I hit it, usually the harder I bat-flip,” he added. “But I always bat-flip.”

Here’s how unflinching Greinke is about flipping his bat. The pitcher went at it again in his next at-bat but this time, Greinke’s plate appearance netted a single.

Greinke ended up winning the 3-2 game after seven innings. He allowed seven hits but also limited the damage to two earned runs.

The ace’s bat-flipping prowess is entertaining enough, but it’s also an important reminder the Diamondbacks’ starting pitchers began spring training with a goal of making an impact at the plate.

So far, the results are positive.

Arizona leads the National League with 29 hits and 11 runs scored by pitchers in 2016, and the pitchers have been especially hot of late. The staff entered the evening 7-of-12 at the plate through the first six games of the current homestand.

With that, we give Greinke and company the go-ahead to continue flipping bats to their hearts’ desire.

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