Greinke Awful In Arizona Debut As Story Makes MLB History [VIDEO]
BOB BAUM, AP Sports Writer
PHOENIX (AP) — Chase Field was rocking. New ace Zack Greinke was on the mound. The stage was set for a rollicking opening night for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
And then it all fell apart.
Greinke had his worst outing in nearly four years and Colorado rolled to a 10-5 victory Monday as Rockies rookie shortstop Trevor Story became the first player to hit two home runs in his major league debut on opening day.
Arizona manager Chip Hale said the game was built up too much.
"You guys really hyped it up and every opening day means no more than tomorrow's game," he said. "Are we happy that we lost? No. We're disappointed that we lost. It's just one of 162."
Greinke (0-1), who signed a $206.5 million, six-year contract with the Diamondbacks, gave up seven runs — six in one inning. He had not allowed that many runs in a game since the Diamondbacks scored seven against him on May 26, 2012, when he was with Milwaukee.
"I think sometimes you guys want to read too much into it," Hale said. "He didn't pitch that well and they swung the bats really well, so let's give them credit."
Greinke gave up three homers in a game for the first time since Aug. 19, 2009.
"Usually in the past, one bad outing, I usually get over it pretty quick," he said. "If it happens a couple of times then I start to think I've got to work on something."
At 4 hours, 11 minutes, it was the longest nine-inning game in Diamondbacks history.
Story also became the first National League player to hit multiple home runs in his first game. Four have done it in the American League.
"It is unbelievable," Story said. "It is something you don't even dream of or something that I never dreamed of. It is a really, really special moment."
His first homer drove in three in the Rockies' six-run third, and Carlos Gonzalez followed with a homer off Greinke, too. Story added a solo shot in the fourth.
The first home run came on a "fastball maybe a little up, maybe not knowing what he likes," Greinke said. "But I don't think I gave up a home run on that pitch the whole year last year. So we'll live with that one and it kind of just happens. His other home run was a pretty good pitch, too. Same thing, not perfect, but pretty darned good."
Nolan Arenado hit a three-run shot off Silvino Bracho in the eighth, sending most of the 48,165 in attendance heading toward the exits.
Justin Miller (1-0) pitched 1 1-3 scoreless innings of relief to get the victory.
The Rockies scored five runs in the third before Greinke could get anyone out.
Charlie Blackmon doubled in the first run, then Story launched a 1-0 pitch over the fence in right field to bring home three. Gonzalez followed with a line shot into the swimming pool area in right-center. Finally, Arenado flied out for the first out.
GREINKE'S NIGHTMARE
Greinke entered with great fanfare as the long-sought ace of the Diamondbacks after going 19-3 with a major league-best 1.66 ERA last season for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
After blanking Colorado the first two innings, Greinke had a 25 1/3-inning scoreless streak at Chase Field before things unraveled.
He hadn't given up six runs in an inning since 2012.
STORY'S STORY
Story, the second Colorado player to homer in his major league debut, won the shortstop job this spring after Jose Reyes was arrested on domestic violence charges in Hawaii during the offseason.
Reyes spent all of spring training on paid leave. A prosecutor in Hawaii said last week that the charges against the four-time All-Star will likely be dropped because his wife isn't cooperating. But MLB could still hand out a suspension under terms of the new domestic violence policy.
Rockies manager Walt Weiss made it clear Saturday the team sees the 23-year-old Story as its future at shortstop. Weiss said he has "no idea" when Commissioner Rob Manfred might decide on any potential punishment for the 32-year-old Reyes.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Diamondbacks: RHP Josh Collmenter started the season on the 15-day DL. OF A.J. Pollock is expected to have surgery on his broken right elbow in the next few days.
UP NEXT
Rockies: Right-hander Chad Bettis, who was 8-4 with a 4.23 ERA last season, gets the start against Arizona.
Diamondbacks: Right-hander Shelby Miller starts after being acquired in a trade with Atlanta for outfielder Ender Inciarte and two top minor league prospects.
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