Zack Greinke didn’t throw a perfect game in his Dodger premiere, but that’s the only way he disappointed.
Greinke allowed only a questionable single in his first six innings for Los Angeles, whose bats came ever so slightly to life in a 3-0 victory tonight against Pittsburgh.
The new Dodger righty had thrown 84 pitches in retiring 18 of 19 batters over six innings, then gave up consecutive hard-hit balls to start the seventh. One was caught, but after the other by Andrew McCutchen went up the middle for a single, Dodger manager Don Mattingly rightfully decided that Greinke, whose Spring Training was interrupted by a tender elbow, had done quite enough.
Paco Rodriguez relieved and put out the mini-threat with a strikeout of Pedro Alvarez, with A.J. Ellis throwing out McCutchen trying to steal. Kenley Jansen retired the side after a leadoff walk in the eighth, and Brandon League closed the door perfectly in the ninth for the year’s first Dodger save.
Los Angeles got ahead to stay in the second inning when Andre Ethier hit the Dodgers’ first non-Clayton Kershaw homer of 2013, off Pirates starter Jonathan Sanchez. It was Ethier’s third extra-base hit in his first seven at-bats off portsiders this season.
Greinke was living with that narrow margin until the bottom of the sixth, when Mark Ellis drew the Dodgers’ first walk of the game and Matt Kemp and Adrian Gonzalez (2 for 4) followed with RBI doubles. The Kemp hit, of course, was his first of the season (ending an 0-for-12 streak), and he beamed at second base.
Los Angeles, which got nice glovework tonight after giving up a pair of unearned runs in each of the previous two contests, has a team ERA of 1.00 after four games. Opponents are batting .177 with three walks and 29 strikeouts.
On the other hand, the left side of the Dodger infield is 0 for 25 with two walks and two errors.
Below: a fantastic play by Dee Gordon for Albuquerque tonight
Anonymous
That was very enjoyable. Great pitching, good defense, and just enough hittin’.
Anonymous
I’d like to see more sustained offense, but Jonathan Sánchez was extremely lucky in having every borderline pitch go his way. He’s usually a BB machine.
KT
Loved Kemp’s smile and acknowledgement of his Mom…great gif of it over on MSTI…If I knew how to copy it I would
Jeffrey Thomas III
Enjoyable for obvious reasons, but also my fantasy team the Pawnee Rangers appreciate the save, homerun, and rbi’s.
Anonymous
So who in your league has Chris Davis?
Jeffrey Thomas III
Unfortunately, my brother. Who I am facing this week. Chris Davis is single handedly destroying me.
Anonymous
Going up to Camden at the end of the month to see my Bums. Hopefully he has calmed down by then and Beckett’s turn doesn’t come up. The balls really fly out of there.
Gobias Bluth
The Pawnee Rangers…..sweet fantasy name! And here I thought my National Lampoon’s Vacation tribute name of Honky Lips was good. Back to the drawing board…
KT
Night Bob, Jeff, Jon…see you all tomorrow for Clayton’s gem
Anonymous
Night.
Anonymous
Loved the Dee interview where he flat out says that he got a bad read on the ball and a bad jump.
KT
Morning All. Here’s to the anticipation of waiting to see another great game pitched by Kershaw…It sucks….I can’t wait…At least game time is an hour earlier tonight
Anonymous
Good post.
Jeffrey Thomas III
What is Ned’s fascination with veteran back up catchers? I’m hoping FedEx still get’s a chance this year but with the addition of Ramon Hernandez I’m not sure he’ll get it.
KT
Not much return for Harang except the fact that we won’t be paying Fed-ex a major league salary and we save 2 million on Harangs option and the 2.6 million on luxury tax for the same option next year
Jon Weisman
NPUT