Sedona Red Recap: Zack Greinke limits damage to help D-backs beat Dodgers

PHOENIX — Prior to the game, Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale admitted the obvious.

“It is something of a storyline that he pitched there and that he’s now with us,” he said, referring to Zack Greinke’s three-year run with the L.A. Dodgers.

In his first appearance against his former club, Greinke pitched seven innings, recording a quality start to help lead the D-backs to a 3-2 series-opening victory in front of an announced crowd of 21,374 at Chase Field on Monday.

It was Greinke’s sixth straight win and the D-backs third straight, their longest since a five-game run the second week of May.

Greinke (9-3) had command issues early and showed his frustration over his inability to hit his spots at times out on the mound.

But he settled down and retired 15 of 18, including seven in a row at one point, before turning the game over to the bullpen, which nailed down the victory.

Brad Ziegler earned his 13th save—the rare five-out variety—and club-record 41st-straight, the longest active streak in MLB and seventh-longest all-time.

Greinke, who won 51 games with the Dodgers, had but one clean inning over his seven-inning effort, working in and out of trouble in every frame but the fourth. He limited the damage, however, to a Corey Seager solo home run and Justin Turner RBI double.

Greinke scattered seven hits with two walks and six strikeouts.

Offensively, the D-backs got solo home runs from Paul Goldschmidt and Jake Lamb plus an RBI single from Jean Segura, the latter of which proved to be the game-winner.

All three runs were charged to starter and one-time D-back Mike Bolsinger (1-4).

The D-backs, 2-2 against the Dodgers, have won three in a row at home for the first time all season.

THE GOOD

Goldschmidt extended not one, but two streaks with his first-inning, game-tying solo home run. He’s now hit in eight straight games and reached base safely in 18 straight. The home run, by the way, was his team-best 12th of the season. Goldschmidt, who entered the game with a league-leading .411 average since May 27, clubbed an 0-1 slider—clocked at 79-mph—into the pool area in right-center field.

A year ago, Lamb hit six home runs in 107 games. This season he’s doubled that homer total in 45 fewer games. For Lamb, his 12th home run, matching Goldschmidt for team-high honors, came with two outs in the third inning to give the D-backs their first lead of the game, 2-1. It was an 80-mph first-pitch curveball that Lamb took the opposite way, depositing the ball into the seats in left field.

Not known for his defense, Peter O’Brien flashed some leather and some athleticism in the fifth inning. With his off hand reaching to find the wall, O’Brien jumped to rob Turner of a home run, or at least extra bases depending on the replay angle. Remember, O’Brien was drafted as a catcher and is still learning the outfield, but he’s looked very comfortable out in left field in the three starts he’s made.

More slick fielding came an inning later, when with two outs and the tying run at third base, Segura raced into shallow center field and made an over-the-shoulder catch to retire Scott Van Slyke and keep the score, 3-2 D-backs. It was Segura who had given the D-backs that lead back in the fifth with a two-out RBI single. The play scored Nick Ahmed who had reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second.

THE BAD

Only 12 pitches into the game, Greinke saw his 16-inning scoreless streak snapped. Turner ripped a one-out double off the wall in center field; the ball got away from David Peralta which allowed Seager, who had singled in the at-bat prior, to score from first without drawing a throw home. Turner swung at the first pitch he saw,a fastball clocked at 92-mph, in what was just his second career at-bat against Greinke.

After a single in the first and walk in the third, Seager unloaded on Greinke’s 2-2 slider—clocked at 87-mph—for a one-out, game-tying solo home run in the fifth inning. The ball exited the field and over the pool in right-center field for Seager’s team-leading 15th homer of the season. It was the 10th home run allowed by Greinke, joining Patrick Corbin (12), Robbie Ray (10) and Shelby Miller (10) in double figures.

Yes, the D-backs have committed only one error in the past eight games, but it was not a pretty sight watching Yasmany Tomas play right field for the first six innings—he moved to left field in the seventh. Twice he looked out of place, misplaying Scott Van Slyke’s double in the second and Joc Pederson’s double in the sixth, the latter of which saw Tomas take a couple of steps in only to have the ball go over his head.

STAT OF THE GAME

0-for-11: The Dodgers went hitless in 11 chances with runners in scoring position, the first seven opportunities coming in the first three innings

HE SAID IT

“That’s what it’s all about,” Hale said, referring to the team’s three-game winning streak. “Just keep continuing to play hard. When Zack pitches it’s good to get a win, especially for him. That was a well-pitched game.”

NOTED

– Greinke threw a first-pitch strike to 21 of 30 batters faced, including 11 in a row between innings 3-6.

– Greinke recorded his ninth hit, complete with exaggerated bat flip, with a one-out single in the fifth inning.

– Ziegler recorded his 11th career save longer than 1.0 innings, nine of which have been five or more outs.

– Lamb has 18 extra-base hits (8 doubles, 1 triple and 9 home runs) plus 28 RBI in 33 games since May 7.

– Goldschmidt has 23 home runs and 66 RBI, the most of any player against the Dodgers since August 2011.

– Video replay review (2:32) showed Goldschmidt’s ball went foul in the sixth inning. It was originally called a home run.

– Despite a first-pitch temperature of 98 degrees, the game was played with both the roof and panels open.

– D-backs recognized AIA state championship teams Pima (baseball), Hamilton/Ray (softball) high schools.

– Shelby Miller (sprained finger) is scheduled to make his second rehab start with Single-A Visalia Tuesday.

UP NEXT

A pair of right-handers,Archie Bradley and Kenta Maeda, take the mound in game two of the three-game series on Tuesday.

First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. with pregame coverage beginning 40 minutes earlier on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.

Bradley (2-2) will be looking to end a two-start losing streak, having dropped back-to-back outings to the Cubs and Rays. Against the Rays, he allowed four runs on five hits in 5.2 innings. It marked his shortest stint since being recalled from Triple-A Reno in early May.

Bradley won his lone career start against the Dodgers, tossing six scoreless innings with just one hit allowed on April 11, 2015, at Chase Field.

Meanwhile, Maeda, in his first big league season, is making his second start versus the D-backs. He allowed five hits in six scoreless innings but did not factor in his team’s 4-2 loss on April 12, his Dodger Stadium debut.

Maeda (5-4) had won two straight starts before his last appearance, a 1-0 loss to the Rockies in which he struck out a career-high nine batters in 6.2 innings.

Overall, Maeda ranks among the league leaders in ERA (2.70, 11th), WHIP (1.06, 12th) and opponent batting average (.211, 11th).

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