Greinke, Aided By Defense, Pitches Diamondbacks Past Dodgers, 3-2
PHOENIX (AP) — Zack Greinke was aided by three defensive gems while pitching seven innings in his first game against his old team since leaving Los Angeles, and the Arizona Diamondbacks got home runs from Paul Goldschmidt and Jake Lamb to beat the Dodgers 3-2 on Monday night.
Greinke (9-3), who signed a six-year, $206.5 million with the Diamondbacks, was backed by big plays from left fielder Peter O'Brien, second baseman Jean Segura and center fielder Michael Bourn. Greinke allowed two runs and seven hits to win his sixth consecutive start, throwing a season-high 119 pitches.
Goldschmidt and Lamb hit solo home runs off Mike Bolsinger (1-4).
Corey Seager homered for the Dodgers.
Brad Ziegler got the final five outs for his 41st consecutive save, 13th this season.
Daniel Hudson walked the bases loaded with one out in the eighth before Ziegler came on to strike out pinch-hitter Kike Hernandez. Howie Kendrick hit a fly ball to short center field, where Bourn dashed in and made a diving grab to end the inning. Ziegler pitched a perfect ninth to complete the save.
In the fifth, O'Brien made a leaping catch at the left-field wall to rob Justin Turner of an extra-base hit and possibly a home run. An inning later, with two outs and a runner on second, Segura preserved Arizona's 3-2 lead, running toward straightaway center field, to grab Scott Van Slyke's fly ball.
Los Angeles center fielder Joc Pederson probably saved a run when he slammed into the wall while making a running catch of Yasman Tomas' deep fly ball in the seventh.
Greinke went 51-15 with a 2.30 ERA in three seasons with the Dodgers. After a rough start this year, he had rounded into familiar form lately, pitching a three-hit shutout against Tampa Bay last Tuesday.
It was a struggle against Los Angeles.
Seager's 15th home run of the season, over the swimming pool in right field, tied it for the Dodgers at 2-2 in the fifth.
Arizona regained the lead, 3-2, in its half of the fifth when Nick Ahmed reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and scored when Segura singled sharply to center.
With a runner at first and one out in the seventh — and Seager coming to the plate after a home run, single and walk — Arizona manager Chip Hale went to the mound but left Greinke in the game. The Diamondbacks' ace got Seager to fly out to left and struck out Turner to end the inning.
Greinke's streak of 16 scoreless innings ended abruptly in the first. Seager singled with one out and scored when Turner doubled off the wall in straightaway center.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Dodgers: RHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (left shoulder surgery) re-started his rehab Sunday, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits with three strikeouts in three innings for Class A Rancho Cucamonga at Lake Elsinore. OF Yasiel Puig (strained left hamstring) was to begin his rehab assignment with Rancho Cucamonga Monday night.
Diamondbacks: RHP Shelby Miller (sprined right index finger) is to make his second rehab start for Class A Visalia Tuesday night at Bakersfield.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: RHP Kenta Maeda (5-4, 2.70 ERA) struck out a career-high nine batters and walked just one in a 1-0 loss to Colorado in his last outing.
Diamondbacks: RHP Archie Bradley (2-2, 5.22 ERA) was tagged for four runs in 5 2/3 innings against Tampa Bay in his last outing.
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