Back to Reality: Dodgers Take Two of Three From Diamondbacks

Zach Greinke was to much in the series finale for the D-backs. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Game 3: Dodgers-4 Diamondbacks-3

W: Greinke (17-3)

L: Corbin (5-4)

Zack Greinke was simply to much for the Diamondbacks on Sunday afternoon and a ninth inning rally was to little to late as the Dodgers took the final series between the two teams at the Snakes home 4-3.

That is really all you need to know.

Greinke improved his case for the National League CY Young Award collecting his 17th win. He went eight innings allowing just three hits while striking out eight and walking two. Greinke threw 93 pitches, 69 of them for strikes, with twelve ground balls.

Greinke’s ERA of 1.61 leads the National League, and it looks like the award for the best pitcher in the senior circuit will come down to him and the Cubs Jake Arrieta (1.99 ERA), his teammate Clayton Kershaw (2.15 ERA), and the Mets Jacob DeGrom (2.40 ERA).

Greinke was locked in all night and was a no-hitter looked probable until Jarrod Saltalamacchia doubled off the wall in left-field in the fifth his 12th of the season.

He benefited from an expanded strike zone but the D-backs offense didn’t have many opportunities going 1-5 with RISP.

The offense’s best chance came in sixth after Nick Ahmed and A.J. Pollock singled, but Goldy struck out and that was the end of the threat.

Patrick Corbin pitched well enough to earn the victory scattering eight hits while allowing just two runs in six innings striking out four and walking none.

Salty hit a three run bomb in the 9th to end the shutout, but it was to little to late for the Diamondbacks.

Players of the Series

Ender Inciarte: 5-for-14, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 RBI

Nick Ahmed: 5-for-9, 2 2B, 2 R, 4 RBI

The second to last homestand of the season wraps up with a three game series against the Padres starting tomorrow night.

Probable Pitching Matchups:

Game 1: RHP James Shields (11-6 3.90 ERA) vs. RHP Jeremy Hellickson (9-8 4.60 ERA)

Game 2: RHP Tyson Ross (10-10 3.24 ERA) vs. RHP Jhoulys Chacin (0-1 2.70 ERA)

Game 3: RHP Andrew Cashner (5-15 4.27 ERA) vs. LHP Robbie Ray (4-11 3.54 ERA)

Stay with Venom Strikes for coverage of this series and more!