PHOENIX – Maybe they should have paid him.
Former Dodger Zack Greinke scattered two runs over seven innings, Paul Goldschmidt homered and the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers, 3-2, on Monday night at Chase Field.
Greinke played for the Dodgers for three seasons before he hitched up the wagon and headed to Arizona in the offseason. The 2015 runner-up for the Cy Young Award helped lead LA to three straight NL West division titles.
Greinke entered the game with 16 consecutive scoreless innings, but the Dodgers quickly jumped on their former ace with a run in the first inning.
Corey Seager hit a one-out single and Justin Turner followed with an RBI double that just missed getting out of the ballpark.
Paul Goldschmidt tied the game in the bottom half of the first when he crushed a Mike Bolsinger slider over the pool in right-center field.
Jake Lamb gave the Diamondbacks the lead when he homered on the first pitch of his at-bat off Bolsinger in the bottom of the third.
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Bolsinger (1-4) allowed his third run of the game in the bottom of the fifth when he surrendered a two-out single to Jean Segura to give Arizona the lead.
The right-hander allowed three runs on five hits with five strikeouts and two home runs allowed in 4 and 2/3rd innings of work. It was the 11th consecutive game that Bolsinger did not pitch into the sixth inning or deeper.
"We'd like him to go deeper in the game," Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts said of his starter. "But he gave us a chance to win and that's what we like to see."
Seager tied the game in the top half of the fifth with a solo shot off Greinke that flew over the pool in right-center.
Greinke (9-3) defeated his former team for the first time this season, allowing two runs on seven hits with six strikeouts in seven innings for his sixth straight win.
"We saw the best of Zack Greinke. Obviously he wanted to show well against his former team," Roberts said. "I applaud our guys for the way they competed tonight."
The Dodgers loaded the bases off the D-backs bullpen in the bottom of the eighth inning, but pinch-hitter, Enrique Hernandez struck out and Howie Kendrick lined out to center to end the threat.
Los Angeles left 10 mean on base and was an atrocious 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position. They have lost three straight games, and five straight have been decided by one run. They are 7-13 in one-run games this season.
Brad Ziegler converted the five-out save, his 13th on the season as the side-arm reliever has now converted 41 consecutive saves in a row dating back to last season.
Players of the Game:
Paul Goldschmidt: Home run.
Jake Lamb: Home run.
Corey Seager: 2-for-3 with a home run and two runs scored.
Three Takeaways:
1. Friendly Fire: The Dodgers faced former teammate Zack Greinke for the first time since May 31, 2012 when he was with the Milwaukee Brewers. Greinke pitched similarly in that outing as he did on Mondy allowing two runs on seven hits in seven strong innings of work.
Yasmani Grandal's reaction to Zack Greinke signing with Arizona: "I was just glad he didn't go to San Francisco." — Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) June 14, 2016
2. One Run Fun: The Dodgers have played in six consecutive one-run games and fall to a paltry 7-13 in one-run games overall on the season. It was their third straight one-run loss, the first time in three years that's happened.
Dodgers, who have played five consecutive one-run games, trail 3-2 entering the seventh. — Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) June 14, 2016
3. Bad Luck Bolsinger: Dodgers' starter Mike Bolsinger last just 4.2 innings before he was lifted for J.P. Howell in the fifth inning. The right-hander has a streak of 11 straight games without making it into the 6th inning dating back to last season. He averages 4.57 innings per game in his starts.
Mike Bolsinger hasn't mde it to 6 innings now in 11 straight MLB starts. Was averaging 4.57 innings in those 10 starts, goes 4⅔ IP tonight — Eric Stephen (@truebluela) June 14, 2016
Up Next:
Dodgers (33-32) Los Angeles looks to snap a three-game losing streak when Kenta Maeda takes the mound on Tuesday in the Desert.
Diamondbacks (29-37): Archie Bradley gets the ball for Arizona as first pitch is scheduled for 6:40PM PST.
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