D-backs 2, Giants 1: Greinke keeps things blunt, defeats Bumgarner

Looking to build upon his last start, Zack Greinke wasted no time giving us all heart attacks. After an unconventional 1-2-3 inning for the D-backs in the 1st (Drury was picked off), Greinke immediately allowed the first to runners to reach base with Denard Span singling and Joe Panik walking. Fortunately for us, Greinke snapped back to reality getting a flyout from Buster Posey and back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat.

For both pitchers, it was more of what we expected from them as they dueled through 12 innings of shutout baseball. For Greinke, it was a lot of mixing speeds and hitting his spots, with all of his pitches working. Of course, it helps when the strike zone was roughly the size of the golden gate bridge. With the advent of analytics, we are fortunate to have tools that track pitch locations. Here's a couple of my favorite calls from tonight benefitting the D-backs.

Call helps #Dbacks
Strike 3 should be ball 2
Bot 1 Greinke vs Belt
28% call same
1.1in from edge pic.twitter.com/tBWNfNQr0K

— D'backs Strike Zone (@DiamondbacksUmp) April 21, 2016

Unfortunately for us, the zone was the same for the Giants. It's not like Madison needs any extra help pitching, he's excellent. But when you get some of the calls that he got, well the 6 scoreless frames from both pitchers make more sense.

Call hurts #Dbacks
Strike 1 should be ball 2
Top 4 Bumgarner vs Goldschmidt
2% call same
4.1in from edge pic.twitter.com/kbssx7sr9I

— D'backs Strike Zone (@DiamondbacksUmp) April 21, 2016

I mean really? I'm with Brenly, let's take advantage of some robo umps.

The Diamondbacks did nothing against Bumgarner the entire game, aside from a couple hits until the 7th when Yasmany Tomas fell behind but worked the count full before lining a leadoff single into centerfield to start things for the offense. Castillo followed suit, getting behind 0-2 before depositing a fastball deep into the left-centerfield bleachers to put the D-backs on top 2-0.

The Giants responded. After a foul out from Matt Duffy, Gregor Blanco hammered a fastball deep into right-centerfield. Chris Owings gave chase, but was a step late, giving the Giants a runner on 3rd with 1 out. Bumgarner was replaced with Hunter Pence, and after a long 9 pitch at-bat popped out to Goldschmidt at 1st for the second out. Angel Pagan then slapped a pitch off the plate for a single to cut the D-backs lead in half, 2-1. Chafin came on in relief, striking out Span to wrap things up.

Things were looking up in the 8th, with Jake Lamb lining a double over the head of Span in center to lead things off. Chip Hale asked Segura to bunt the runner over and wasn't successful, bunting just a few feet from the catcher and Lamb was thrown out at 3rd by a couple steps. Brandon Drury singled into left-center, putting runners on the corners with Goldy and Tomas to follow, but they were both unsuccessful, grounding out to the pitcher in both instances.

Tyler Clippard continued his scoreless streak, getting the Giants in order in the 8th and after the D-backs did the same, Brad Ziegler was summoned to end things. He made it interesting at least, allowing a double to Matt Duffy with 1 out but bared down and shut down Gregor Blanco by groundout and striking out Trevor Brown to clinch a series win and a .500 record! Woot! Here's the Game Graph.

Source: FanGraphs

Purple Haze - Welington Castillo (23.3%), Zack Greinke (22.9%)

Michael Scott's Caprese Salad - Jean Segura (-14.2%)

Comment of the thread goes to bluebulldog for willing the D-backs to victory.

Matinee game tomorrow, stop on by, get your brooms and help us get the series sweep.