D-backs 2, Pirates 1 - No-hitter spoiled for Greinke

Did you know Zack Greinke’s velocity is down again? Coming into tonight’s game, he’s been hovering around 90-91 mph, which is a step below where he was in April and even lower than where it was last year. Of course, because he’s doing well it goes by the wayside. Facing a Pirates team for the first time this season, the D-backs and Greinke needed to get things off to a good start coming off a disappointing split with the Detroit Tigers.

Of course, this Pirates team isn’t the same team we’re used to seeing this season. Starling Marte is suspended, Andrew McCutchen never bounced back like he was supposed to, and the supporting cast is just struggling to do much of anything at the plate. If there was ever a time for Greinke to show his dazzling stuff, now would be the time to do so. And boy did he ever.

Greinke was absolutely fabulous through his 8 innings of work, taking a no-hitter into that 8th inning before allowing a home run to Gregory Polanco on a good slider off the plate. All told, he allowed 1 run on 1 hit, walking 1 and striking out 11 Pirates on the night. His slider was especially good, with 8 of his 11 strikeouts coming on the pitch.

Unfortunately for the D-backs, they struggled themselves against Gerrit Cole. The scored their lone runs early in the game, with 1 each in the 2nd and 3rd innings. Chris Owings doubled to lead off their half of the 2nd, and Brandon Drury followed it up with a single up the middle to score the run 1-0.

The D-backs scored the very important insurance run in the 3rd, with a David Peralta 1-out double and Paul Goldschmidt single putting runners on the corners. Lamb responded, lining a double to center to score Peralta and make it 2-0. That was it though, as Owings and Drury struck out to end the threat.

Greinke did his thing until the 8th, when he allowed the homer to ruin the evening, but as already described, was excellent.

Existential dread kicked in when Fernando Rodney started warming in the bullpen for the 9th but even that was without much fanfare, as a weak grounder to Goldy and strike out accounted for the first two outs. Josh Harrison battled for the last time, going 9 pitches deep before walking but tried advancing into scoring position with a steal attempt, but was thrown out by Jeff Mathis to show Rodney how to really save a game.

That really was it. 2-1 D-backs. For as much fun as it was watching, it’s fairly boring to write about. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Zack Greinke (+43.6%)
Fernando Rodney (+17.4%)
Jeff Mathis (-8.9%)

Hmmmm I wonder what caused so many people to comment :). Thanks for stopping by! Comments of the thread go to blue bulldog and SenSurround cause they were funny.

Another game tomorrow against these same Pirates. Patrick Corbin faces off against Tyler Glasnow. Stop on by and say hello!