Sedona Red Recap: D-backs can’t solve Dodgers’ Zack Greinke in 4-3 loss
Sep 13, 2015, 5:20 PM
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Zach Greinke throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
(AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
The bats were the deciding factor in the first two games of the series between Arizona and Los Angeles. On Friday, the Diamondbacks put up 12 runs on their way to a victory, and the Dodgers countered with nine of their own in a win on Saturday.
Sunday, the pitchers took center stage.
Zack Greinke tossed eight scoreless innings – scattering just three hits while striking out eight – as Los Angeles toppled Arizona 4-3 in front of 36,501 fans at Chase Field. It was a pretty typical outing for the 31-year old righty, who entered the game with the best ERA (1.68) and WHIP (0.86) in the majors and is leading the pack of contenders for the NL Cy Young.
Patrick Corbin did his best to keep the D-backs in the game, allowing just two earned runs over six solid innings. It was yet another quality start by the talented lefty, who now has an ERA of 1.85 over his last four appearances. He ultimately came up short though, dropping his first decision since a 2-1 loss to Milwaukee back on July 24.
Arizona did put together a late rally, tagging Dodger reliever Kenley Jansen for three runs in the ninth thanks to a homer by Jarrod Saltalamacchia. But it wasn’t enough. For the year, Chip Hale’s group is now 4-11 against LA.
THE GOOD
-Corbin has now allowed three runs or less in 11 of his 13 starts in 2015. He’s also delivered five consecutive quality starts at home.
-It didn’t quite prevent a run, but Chris Owings and Nick Ahmed combined on a nice looking putout at second base that nearly turned into a double play. In the third, Scott Van Slyke hit a sharp grounder up the middle that Owings slid and backhanded behind the bag. He then threw to Ahmed, who barehanded it for the out, spun and fired to Paul Goldschmidt at first – narrowly missing an inning ending double play.
-The Diamondbacks have now homered in seven consecutive games.
THE BAD
-Once again, the Dodgers got to Arizona early. Justin Ruggiano led off the game with a double, then came around to score on a Justin Turner single, giving the Dodgers a 1-0 lead before most fans even got settled into their seats.
-David Peralta saw his nine-game hitting streak come to an end.
-The D-backs are 1-64 when trailing after eight innings this season.
STAT OF THE GAME
3: Saltalamacchia has hit a home run in each of the last three contests he has appeared in. He’s also the batter that broke up Greinke’s no-hit bid in the fifth inning.
HE SAID IT
“It’s just frustrating coming out in the seventh. I wanted to go out and I told Chip that’s the best I’ve felt. But I understand everything right now, and where we are in the season. It’s just tough right now to handle that, knowing next season I probably do go out there.” – Patrick Corbin
NOTED
-Similar to what happened in Saturday’s game, Peralta attempted to make a catch along the fence in foul territory on a second inning fly ball off the bat of A.J. Ellis. This time all the fans got out of the way and allowed him to make the play… but the ball fell out of his glove when he hit the barrier.
UP NEXT
Arizona begins a three-game series with the San Diego Padres on Monday at Chase Field. Jeremy Hellickson is scheduled to get the start for Arizona, while James Shields takes the mound for the Padres.
First pitch is at 6:40, with pregame coverage beginning at 6 on Arizona Sports 98.7.
Hellickson (9-8) will be making his first start since Aug. 17. He’s been on the 15-day DL with a hamstring strain but was pitching well before he went down. He was 2-0 with a 0.68 ERA in his last two outings before the injury and had posted a respectable 3.18 ERA over his previous eight appearances. He’s been especially good at Chase Field, where he is 6-1 in his last seven starts — all of which have been quality outings.
Shields (11-6) has been one of San Diego’s best pitchers since coming over from Kansas City last summer. He’s picked up wins in each of his last two decisions, most recently allowing four runs over six innings in an 8-4 victory over Colorado on Sept. 9. So far this season, he’s 1-1 against the Diamondbacks.
