Arizona Diamondbacks Zack Greinke looks unfamiliar in loss
By Trisha Garcia
The Arizona Diamondbacks continued their series loss streak with a second consecutive loss to the Minnesota Twins.
In a shutout, 5-0 loss, the Arizona Diamondbacks looked reminiscent of the 2016 team more than a 2017 Wild Card team.
Zack Greinke took the mound and didn’t exhibit control early. In the first inning, Greinke needed 30 pitches. He escaped a bases-loaded jam without allowing anyone to score, but didn’t look like himself.
He redeemed himself with two quick innings, but the offense returned to its earlier silence and Greinke couldn’t fend the Twins off forever.
In the fourth inning, Greinke pitched into another jam by loading the bases with one out.
Manager Torey Lovullo didn’t exactly seem to mind. It wasn’t until after several runs had scored that he picked J.J. Hoover to warm up. But, Lovullo left Greinke in to give up five runs.
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In an un-Greinke-like fashion, the starting pitcher only went four innings and picked up the loss.
The offense wasn’t much help as they were 2-for-29 for the night. Only A.J. Pollock and Brandon Drury picked up hits.
The team was only 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position, which speaks to the issue of not getting runners over. Overall, the team had six total line/drive outs.
The bullpen, including Hoover and Silvino Bracho, pitched a combined four scoreless innings. Hoover gave up two hits over 2.2 innings pitched, but didn’t add to the score, while Bracho remained hitless in 1.1 innings.
The Diamondbacks have now failed to win five series straight. The last series the team won was against the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 3.
They will have one more chance to avoid the sweep. The Diamondbacks haven’t been swept since the series against the Atlanta Braves on July 16.
The team will face Bartolo Colon tomorrow, while Lovullo announced after the game that T.J. McFarland will start for the Diamondbacks.
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Luckily, with a loss for both teams tonight, the Arizona Diamondbacks remain one game behind the Colorado Rockies in the Wild Card.