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)
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.
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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.
