D-backs’ Zack Greinke homers off Clayton Kershaw in matchup of aces

Jun 24, 2019, 7:35 PM | Updated: 10:20 pm

Zack Greinke #21 of the Arizona Diamondbacks grounds into a force out driving in a run in the second inning of the MLB game against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field on June 19, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)

(Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)

BY KELLAN OLSON

Suns reporter, ArizonaSports.com editor

There were legitimate reasons to hype up Monday’s matchup between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks, and just about all of them had to do with who was pitching.

Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke got the nods, two of the best pitches in this decade of baseball and former teammates to boot.

To no shock, both have been great in the 2019 season.

To shock, both combined to give up seven runs through two innings on Monday night.

That included Greinke’s first at-bat in the second inning, a plate appearance in which he hit the third pitch he saw 384 feet to left for a 4-3 D-backs lead.

🐸☕️ #PitchersWhoRake #PitchersWhoRake #PitchersWhoRake

Zack Greinke's solo bomb puts the @Dbacks up 4-3! pic.twitter.com/B8ViGG3Awk

— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) June 25, 2019

The odds dramatically swung over the course of a half-hour because of the start, when the Dodgers scored three runs off Greinke in the first inning.

Giving Kershaw a three-run cushion is never wise, but Christian Walker made up for it in the bottom half with the third homer of his career off Kershaw, this one of the three-run variety to tie the game.

CHRISTIAN WALKER, EVERYONE‼️

3 run homer ties the game in the first. LET'S #RattleOn pic.twitter.com/oEBAlziwd2

— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) June 25, 2019

In Kershaw’s 12-year career, the most homers hit off him by an individual is a mark of four by Adam Dunn (13 at-bats). Yes, that’s even counting terrific hitters like Nolan Arenado (55 at-bats, three homers) and Buster Posey (111 at-bats, three homers) that have had their fair share of chances at Kershaw.

Walker has hit those three homers in only six at-bats against Kershaw.

Follow @KellanOlson

Arizona Diamondbacks' Christian Walker connects for a three-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, June 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw shouts after giving up a three-run home run to Arizona Diamondbacks' Christian Walker during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, June 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Cody Bellinger watches the flight of his run-scoring double against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, June 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Tim Locastro connects for a two-run single against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Monday, June 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zack Greinke throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, June 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Christian Walker (53) shakes hands with third base coach Tony Perezchica (8) while rounding the bases after a three-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, June 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, June 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Joc Pederson (31) celebrates with assistant hitting coach Aaron Bates (33) after scoring against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, June 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Joc Pederson, left, catches a pop fly by Arizona Diamondbacks' David Peralta as Dodgers second baseman Max Muncy (13) looks on during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, June 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Zack Greinke (21) arrives at home plate after hitting a home run as Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes, left, pauses nearby during the second inning of a baseball game Monday, June 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Max Muncy, right, tosses his bat after earning a walk with the bases loaded against the Arizona Diamondbacks as Dodgers' Kyle Garlick (41) runs to home plate to score a run during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Monday, June 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Max Muncy, middle, tosses his bat after earning a bases-loaded walk against Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Yoshihisa Hirano, right, of Japan, as Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel, left, looks on during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Monday, June 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zack Greinke, left, gets pulled from the game by Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo, holding ball, during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Monday, June 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Carson Kelly, left, and Los Angeles Dodgers' Justin Turner (10) look up on a wild pitch by Diamondbacks relief pitcher Yoshihisa Hirano as the ball gets past everyone during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Monday, June 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Yoshihisa Hirano, of Japan, throws a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Monday, June 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Christian Walker (53) and David Peralta (6) celebrate their runs scored against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Monday, June 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Dylan Floro walks off the field after being taken out of the baseball game during the eighth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Monday, June 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Greg Holland (56) slaps hands with Diamondbacks catcher Carson Kelly, left, after the final out of the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Monday, June 24, 2019, in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks' Holland earned his 200th career save, and the Diamondbacks defeated the Dodgers 8-4. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Christian Walker (53) scores a run as Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith, right, and Dodgers relief pitcher Dylan Floro, middle, wait for a possible throw to home plate during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Monday, June 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Christian Walker celebrates his run scored against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Monday, June 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.