Zack Greinke throws eight scoreless innings, D-backs beat Giants
Sep 16, 2017, 9:10 PM | Updated: 9:17 pm
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zack Greinke works against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
(AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Zack Greinke had a strong Robbie Ray performance to follow from Friday in San Francisco, and not only did the Arizona Diamondbacks ace match Ray’s outing, he topped it.
Greinke pitched eight scoreless innings for the D-backs against the San Francisco Giants and opposing ace Madison Bumgarner in a 2-0 winning effort.
Greinke (17-6) only allowed two hits in those eight innings with eight strikeouts and one walk. Greinke, in fact, had as many hits as he gave up.
He doubled off Bumgarner (3-9) in his first two at-bats, making him only the third pitcher in franchise history to have two or more extra-base hits in a game, with the other two being Micah Owings and Dan Haren.
Greinke was the only player in the game to have more than one hit outside of D-backs second baseman Brandon Drury.
Instead of trailing twice like they did Friday, the D-backs took control in the first moments of the game and never looked back.
Paul Goldschmidt hit a two-run home run in the first inning for the only two runs of the game.
The early start didn’t affect #MVPaul, who gives the @Dbacks an early lead.
Stream the #Dbacks on FOX Sports GO: https://t.co/l6pcdpNBo3 pic.twitter.com/aD3N8n4HLf
— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) September 17, 2017
The deep shot to center marked Goldschmidt’s 35th homer of the season and continued to pad his case for the National League’s Most Valuable Player.
It was also all Greinke would need to ice the game out and give the D-backs their ninth straight win on the road and fourth straight win overall.
