D-backs’ Zack Greinke steals another base, enters record books
Jul 8, 2018, 7:52 PM | Updated: Jul 10, 2018, 3:24 pm
Arizona Diamondbacks' pitcher Zack Greinke throws in the first inning during a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Sunday, July 8, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Diamondbacks ace Zack Greinke made his 400th career start Sunday against the San Diego Padres, but that’s not what had people talking after the 16-inning game.
Greinke became just the third pitcher ever to record three stolen bases in a season before the All-Star break, joining the likes of St. Louis pitchers Bob Gibson (four in 1969) and Joaquin Andujar (three in 1985).
The 34-year-old made his move in the bottom of the third, timing the pitch from San Diego starter Clayton Richard and sliding safely into third.
Zack Greinke has 3 stolen bases this season. That’s a record for #Dbacks pitchers.
And he set it in style. #PitchersWhoSteal pic.twitter.com/eugVhF0LPO
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) July 8, 2018
An A.J. Pollock single two batters later allowed both Greinke and Jon Jay to score, at the time giving the D-backs the 2-1 lead.
Greinke has made noise this season while at the plate and on base.
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Back in May against the Washington Nationals, Greinke laced a single to left, which drove in Ketel Marte for the first run of the game.
Greinke then stole second on the first pitch of David Peralta’s at-bat. He became the third pitcher in franchise history to have a hit, RBI and stolen base in one game, joining Braden Shipley and Joe Saunders.
But that wasn’t the only time Greinke has done that this season.
He replicated that performance against the Marlins on June 28, becoming the first pitcher since Gibson in 1969 to have a hit, an RBI and a stolen base in at least two games in a season.
Greinke now has eight steals in his career, which is tied with Orel Hershiser for the sixth-most by a player who also pitched in the same game.
In 4.1 innings Sunday, Greinke allowed two earned runs on six hits and struck out five. He also walked three batters.
The D-backs tore through their entire rotation, forcing catcher Jeff Mathis to take the mound in the top of the 16th inning.
Despite Mathis recording his first career strike out, Padres outfielder Wil Myers blasted a solo homer to give San Diego the lead and eventually the win, 4-3.
