When the 2016 regular season schedule was released, a three-game set between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium from April 12-14 was circled. However, the intrigue was put to bed when Zack Greinke’s turn in the rotation didn’t come up during the series.
Greinke spurned the Dodgers, and San Francisco Giants for that matter, to sign with the Diamondbacks during the offseason. Arizona made a record-breaking late offer, luring the right-hander to the desert on a six-year, $206.5 million contract.
The deal set a Major League Baseball record for highest annual average at $34.42 million. Greinke’s contract also includes over $60 million in deferred salaries.
His first look at the Dodgers came June 13 in a home start. Greinke allowed just two runs over seven innings, collected six strikeouts, and earned the win.
He did allow a towering home run to Corey Seager that cleared right-field pool area at Chase.
Fast forward to Monday when Greinke made his long-anticipated return to Dodger Stadium. He was booed during pregame lineup introductions, prior to his first at-bat, and again in the fifth inning.
Though, the final instance came after the crowd was sent into a frenzy. Adrian Gonzalez broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning by pulling an up-and-in fastball down the right-field line for a two-run homer.
That proved only to be the beginning of Greinke’s troubles as Joc Pederson, Corey Seager, Justin Turner and Yasmani Grandal all homered off their teammate in the fifth:
Five homers tonight, including four in one inning.
Is that good? ? pic.twitter.com/8WJqb3K4xj
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 6, 2016
Seager and Turner gave the Dodgers their sixth back-to-back home runs. The team matched a season high with four home runs in a single inning, while the five homers Greinke allowed set a career high.
To man, the Dodgers said they stuck to their game plan and capitalized on Greinke’s mistakes. Pederson, who was once called an ‘easy out’ by the 32-year-old right-hander, said he was pleased to “get [Greinke] back a little bit.”
Greinke credited the Dodgers for sticking to their plan of attack. He also expressed frustration over the pitch thrown to Pederson and said Turner’s home run was a result of challenging the third baseman.
