Zack Greinke has worst outing of season in loss to Red Sox
Aug 14, 2016, 1:48 PM | Updated: Aug 15, 2016, 12:45 pm
Boston Red Sox's Jackie Bradley Jr., rear, runs the bases after hitting a two-run home off Arizona Diamondbacks' Zack Greinke, left, during the second inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
(AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Zack Greinke picked up right where he left off in his first start since coming back from injury on Aug. 9 against the New York Mets.
That would not be the case Sunday in Boston.
Greinke allowed a season-high nine runs, all earned, and was unable to get out of the second inning in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 16-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox. He gave up 10 hits and struck out three in 1.2 innings.
Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts hit a two-run home run in the first inning, but Greinke limited the damage there.
The second inning would be his downfall. The Red Sox had eight baserunners in the inning and seven of them scored. A RBI double by Andrew Benintendi was followed by a two-RBI single from Dustin Pedroia. Betts would homer again, this time bringing in three runs.
Greinke stayed in, but was pulled after Jackie Bradley Jr.’s two-run homer made it seven runs in the inning and nine total in the game for Boston.
After an additional run in the fourth inning, the floodgates would open once more in the fifth inning when Boston added six more runs. That would make it 16 runs for Boston, a season-high for an Arizona opponent.
While he struggled to start the season, Greinke was in a groove from the middle of May to late June, allowing less than four runs in eight of his last nine starts before spending time on the disabled list in July.
Greinke’s loss moves him to 11-4 on the season, but he is still the only D-backs starting pitcher with at least 10 starts and a record above .500 by a considerable margin over Shelby Miller (2-9), Archie Bradley (4-8), Patrick Corbin (4-12) and Robbie Ray (5-11).
