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By Jon Weisman
How weird was Zack Greinke’s day?
His third-inning home run in the Dodgers’ 10-8 victory at Philadelphia ranked about fifth on the list of today’s most unlikely events.
Earning top billing among Greinke’s exploits were …
- A throwing error on the first batter of the game — Greinke’s third as a Dodger and sixth of his MLB career.
- Five runs allowed to the first five batters — raising Greinke’s 2015 ERA from 1.41 to 1.72.
- A bases-loaded single by Ryan Howard — the first bases-loaded hit Greinke had allowed all season, and only the fourth in three seasons as a Dodger.
- Three runs scored — making Greinke the first Dodger pitcher to score thrice in a game since Claude Osteen in 1970.
And then, there was the final play of the game … but we’ll get to that.
When the Dodgers took a 3-0 lead after two were out in the top of the first inning, you could be excused for thinking the game was all but over. It had been 10 starts since Greinke last allowed three runs in a game, and only on June 2 at Colorado had he exceeded that amount.
But after fielding Cesar Hernandez’s tapper in front of the plate, Greinke threw wildly to first base — and seemed discombobulated through Howard’s two-run single and Dominic Brown’s three-run homer.
Greinke retired the next three batters, then vented some aggression by leading off the second inning with the first of his three hits and six total bases (tying July 8, 2013 for his career best). Greinke would come around to score on an Adrian Gonzalez’s three-run homer that put the Dodgers ahead to stay.
It would be Greinke’s own blast to left field, the fifth homer of his career, that would give the Dodgers’ their seventh run and help ensure he left the game with the lead.
Zack Greinke is the first Dodgers pitcher to go 3-3 or better with a home run since Leo Dickerman in 1923.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 6, 2015
Greinke now has a .231 on-base percentage and .300 slugging percentage this season. San Francisco’s Madison Bumgarner, who has three homers this year, is at .265/.426.
After Brown’s homer, Greinke retired 18 of his remaining 22 batters, with one run scoring. Greinke has allowed 30 runs all season, and 20 percent of them were scored today.
Every Dodger starter had a hit in this game, with Gonzalez, Howie Kendrick, Yasmani Grandal, Andre Ethier and Alberto Callaspo reaching base twice.
J.P. Howell and Juan Nicasio combined for two shutout innings. However, the Phillies scored two runs in the ninth, charged to Joel Peralta, meaning that the Dodger bullpen has allowed runs in seven straight games and 10 of its past 11.
Brown came to the plate as the winning run with one out. He ripped a liner down the line that Gonzalez dived to catch with his body on first base, to double off Howard and end the game.
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Al Kenderes (@Coach__K)
Dodger bullpen is the Achilles heel of their World Series desires, Management needs to be address it and Mattingly needs to stop using Peralta.
Don Bright
It would be much better if DM new how to manage a pen. But I agree that Peralta is only his fault using him in games with even a chance of the Dodgers winning. If the FO does the right thing and DFA’s him today, at least DM can’t be tempted to use him anymore.
Don Bright
Has Peralta been DFA’d yet? DM really doesn’t know how to manage a pen at all. Nicasio should have been brought in the 7th and pitched the 8th, and then Howell the 9th. Jansen is never good when brought in mid-inning, and only that great play saved him from looking any worse. Peralta is as bad as it gets and he won’t get better, so he needs to go, now!
Al Kenderes (@Coach__K)
Amen Don!!!!