ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Deja vu: D-backs facing elimination at home with Greinke on the mound

Oct 8, 2017, 3:52 PM | Updated: Oct 9, 2017, 12:02 pm
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zack Greinke takes the field during a workout at Chase Field,...
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zack Greinke takes the field during a workout at Chase Field, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
(AP Photo/Matt York)

PHOENIX — It’s like Yogi Berra once said: It’s deja vu all over again.

For the second time in less than a week, the Arizona Diamondbacks are in a win-or-go-home situation in their own ballpark with their ace, Zack Greinke, on the mound. When they were in the same situation in Wednesday’s Wild Card game against the Rockies, the D-backs came out on top.

This time, down 2-0 to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS, they aren’t new to the playoff pressure.

“Having a little experience and having the feeling of a win-or-go-home game already underneath our belt, will help us go back and understand that you’ve got to be ready for everything,” Archie Bradley said. “Whether it’s the first inning, the third inning, you have to win this game. You’re pulling out all the stops, everyone’s ready to go and you’re trying to win one game.”

Now, Arizona will look to improve to 7-0 in franchise history when facing elimination in its own ballpark. If the Diamondbacks lose Monday, it will be the second straight postseason appearance in which they were sent home in the division series.

The D-backs’ ace will look to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Greinke faced the Dodgers twice at Chase Field in 2017, both times coming in August. In the first outing, he allowed three runs on four hits and four walks, striking out eight over 6.2 innings and taking a loss. The second time, the D-backs walloped Los Angeles 8-1 as Greinke went six innings, allowing only one run on four hits and two walks.

This third time out will be the most critical yet.

“I (had nerves) before the last game (on Wednesday), but I feel like it helped, if anything,” Greinke said Sunday. “As long as you’re not like overly nervous, it just gets you locked like you’re more focused and more locked in. That’s how it felt last game. As long as you’re not crazy nervous; but that doesn’t happen very often. I’ve only seen it a couple times with people, but it’s pretty rare.”

Greinke knows the Dodgers well, having played for them for three seasons and facing them for many more. With the Dodgers being a patient team at the plate, the former Cy Young winner was asked how he goes after hitters when they’re so willing to wait for their pitches.

“I feel like you guys are trying to get all my game plan tips before the game,” he said. “It sounds kind of silly for me to answer some of these questions.”

It’s just Zack being Zack.

Maybe his dry, steady demeanor is what will help him earn a win and keep the D-backs’ postseason alive, or maybe his personality has nothing to do with his pitching proficiency; an elite skill level that once resulted in a league-leading 1.66 ERA in 2015.

Either way, several D-backs voiced their confidence in having Greinke on the mound for such an important ballgame.

“He’s fearless. He’s on the attack. He understands strengths and limitations,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “I feel like because he’s been our guy all year long and because I know what I know about him, I couldn’t think of a better guy to go out there and execute tomorrow.”

BASE HITS

–The D-backs will go up against Dodgers righty Yu Darvish on Monday, whom Los Angeles acquired on trade deadline day this year from the Texas Rangers. Arizona faced him once in 2017, at Chase Field, where Darvish went five innings and allowed two runs on five hits and two walks to earn the win.

–Should Arizona emerge victorious on Monday night, Lovullo said Patrick Corbin will be the starting pitcher in Game 4 at Chase Field on Tuesday.


Tune in to 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station, your exclusive home for Arizona Diamondbacks playoff baseball.

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Kenley Jansen throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the eighth inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Kenley Jansen celebrates after their win against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017.(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig, left, and first baseman Cody Bellinger celebrate after their win against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes, right, and relief pitcher Kenley Jansen celebrate after their win against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes, left, and relief pitcher Kenley Jansen celebrate after their win against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill, left, tags out Arizona Diamondbacks' A.J. Pollock during the third inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Kenley Jansen throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the eighth inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Jimmie Sherfy is taken out of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fifth inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill fires up the crowd during the seventh inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Los Angeles Dodgers' Chris Taylor watches his RBI-single against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Arizona Diamondbacks' Brandon Drury, right, celebrates his three-run home run with Ketel Marte against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the seventh inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Josh Fields throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the eighth inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Arizona Diamondbacks' Brandon Drury, left, rounds the bases after a three-run home run past Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Cody Bellinger during the seventh inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Arizona Diamondbacks' Brandon Drury, right, celebrates his three-run home run with Ketel Marte against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the seventh inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Arizona Diamondbacks' Brandon Drury celebrates in the dugout his three-run home run off Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Brandon Morrow during the seventh inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Arizona Diamondbacks' Brandon Drury hits a three-run home run off Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Brandon Morrow during the seventh inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Arizona Diamondbacks' Brandon Drury watches his three-run home run off Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Brandon Morrow during the seventh inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Jorge De La Rosa throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the sixth inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers' Austin Barnes celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a single by Yasiel Puig during the fifth inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Los Angeles Dodgers' Yasiel Puig celebrates after hitting a RBI-single against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fifth inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Jimmie Sherfy is taken out of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fifth inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers' Justin Turner gets hit by a pitch during the fifth inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers' Austin Barnes celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a single by Yasiel Puig during the fifth inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Jorge De La Rosa throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the sixth inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Kenta Maeda, of Japan, throws against Arizona Diamondbacks during the fifth inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Kenta Maeda, of Japan, throws Arizona Diamondbacks during the fifth inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers' Austin Barnes watches his two-RBI double against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fifth inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Los Angeles Dodgers' Logan Forsythe watches his RBI-single against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fifth inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill, left, tags out Arizona Diamondbacks' A.J. Pollock during the third inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Los Angeles Dodgers' Yasiel Puig celebrates after a single against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fourth inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Los Angeles Dodgers' Yasiel Puig celebrates after a single against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fourth inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers' Yasiel Puig celebrates after a single against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fourth inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Los Angeles Dodgers' Logan Forsythe celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a wild pitch during the fourth inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers' Yasiel Puig celebrates after a single against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fourth inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers' Logan Forsythe scores on a wild pitch during the fourth inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig's glove and hat sit in the dugout as Enrique Hernandez bats against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the second inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Chris Iannetta, right, can't get a glove on a wild pitch to Los Angeles Dodgers' Yasiel Puig during the second inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Arizona Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt, right, celebrates his two-run home run with A.J. Pollock against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Arizona Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt watches his two-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Chris Iannetta, right, can't get a glove on a wild pitch to Los Angeles Dodgers' Yasiel Puig during the second inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig's glove and hat sit in the dugout as Enrique Hernandez bats against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the second inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill, left, tags out Arizona Diamondbacks' A.J. Pollock during the third inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Members of the Arizona Diamondbacks warm up before Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Fresh bases are set out before Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) A Los Angeles Dodgers fans watches during the first inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Arizona Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt celebrates after after a two-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Arizona Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt watches his two-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Arizona Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt hits a two-run home run off Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill during the first inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Members of the Arizona Diamondbacks warm up before Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Andre Ethier watches batting practice before Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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