Zack Greinke’s first season with the Arizona Diamondbacks has hardly gone according to plan since he signed a six-year, $206.5 million contract over the offseason.
During his introductory press conference Greinke raved about the Diamondbacks’ young core and said it influenced his decision to bolt to the desert. But the team quickly fell behind the eight ball, with A.J. Pollock breaking his elbow just before opening day.
As for facing the Los Angeles Dodgers, Greinke has pitched to mixed results agains his former teammates. He allowed three runs Friday night, though only one was earned.
It was his second consecutive loss to the Dodgers in as many starts. Greinke complimented their lineup, via Bill Plunkett of the OC Register:
“They’re a tough team to pitch to because they don’t have a lot of holes,” Greinke said of his former mates.
Adjusting to hitter-friendly Chase field has proven no easy feat for the right-hander who was coming off a historically great 2015 campaign. On the year Greinke is 5-5 with a 4.81 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in 13 home starts.
He’s twice faced the Dodgers at home, but it was Greinke’s first time back to Dodger Stadium that led to a poor start. He allowed a career-high five home runs and was chased in the fifth inning.
The Dodgers tagged Greinke for eight runs on nine hits. Justin Turner, who hit of the five home runs on Sept. 5, gave the Dodgers a lead Friday night by slicing an RBI triple to right field in the first inning.
Greinke did manage to fare better against Corey Seager, who was 0-for-2 with two strikeouts and a walk against the 32-year-old. Seager had homered in each of the previous games Greinke started. He’s 1-2 with a 5.69 ERA in three starts against the Dodgers this season.
