Arizona Diamondbacks 7, Cincinnati Reds 3: Greinke’s groin grumbles

Record: 10-9. Change on 2017: -1

It was quite a good first inning by Zack Greinke, it has to be said. His velocity was decent, with multiple pitches in the nineties, topping out at 92 mph, and he struck out two batters with change-ups, so his stuff was clearly good enough. But then, just when we had completed the exhale... Greinke didn’t come out for the second inning, Albert Suarez taking the mound instead. Subsequently, word from the Diamondbacks’ clubhouse was that he had been lifted due to “right groin tightness.” While never a good sign, at least it wasn’t right elbow tightness. After the game, Greinke spoke to the media and told Jody Jackson, it doesn’t seem like a big deal. Fingers crossed he’s right.

Outside of that, it was quite a good game by the D-backs, on both sides of the ball. However, Jorge De La Rosa was tagged for a pair of runs in the fourth, on a two-run homer, and Yoshihisa Hirana allowed a solo shot in the seventh. T.J. McFarland was the pick of the relievers this afternoon, striking out three over two hitless innings. Albert Suarez and Jake Buchanan each worked two scoreless frames, and the D-backs’ pitching staff got through the game without allowing a single walk, fanning a total of eight, and holding the Reds hitless in just 3 AB with runners in scoring position. [Old friends alert: the ninth inning for Cincinnati included not only plate appearances by Cliff Pennington, but also Phil Gosselin]

The offense picked up 12 hits and five walks, jumping out early, when Steven Souza blooped one to left center, scoring David Peralta, who had led the game off with a double. Arizona then added a three-spot in the second, on a two-run double by Peralta, and a Paul Goldschmidt ground-out. The rest of the scoring came on RBI singles from Jake Lamb and Jeremy Hazelbaker, sandwiching a wild pitch. Peralta and Ketel Marte had a pair of hits apiece (though the latter was also caught stealing), Lamb walked in addition to his knock, and Rudy Flores drew two walks. Comment of the Thread to Craig’s City Counsell, who is clearly in the best commenting shape of his life:

Tomorrow, it’s off to Sloan Park, and a game against the Cubs, with Robbie Ray starting on the mound for the D-backs.