Zack Greinke pitched eight innings of one-run ball and the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched home field advantage for the NLDS against the New York Mets by holding on to beat the San Diego Padres 2-1 on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium.
In his final start of the regular season, Greinke (19-3) put an exclamation point on his Cy Young campaign allowing just one run on four hits in eight strong innings.
"I just want to make good pitches and think about the next start," Greinke said when asked about if he did enough to win the Cy Young Award. "I haven't really thought about any of that stuff."
With his eight strikeouts, Greinke reached 200 on the season, the fifth time in his career he's reached that milestone. Greinke also won a career-high 19 games and becomes the fifth pitcher in the last 60 years to record 200 strikeouts with an ERA of 1.70 or lower.
"This year I didn't pay attention to the strikeouts," Greinke said of the milestone. "In years past, I did, but this year I just wanted to get outs."
Greinke also lowered his MLB-leading ERA to 1.66, the lowest since Greg Maddux (1.63) in 1995, a strike-shortened season. Greinke also lasted six or more innings in all 32 of his starts in 2015.
"I pitched well the whole season in order to win that," Greinke said of the ERA crown. "There was hardly any errors behind me the whole year. Everyone played well."
Justin Turner hit a solo homer to centerfield in the first inning to give the Dodgers an early 1-0 lead. Turner went 2-for-3 with a home run, an RBI and a run scored as he made his second consecutive start at third base since nursing a forearm injury earlier this week.
Robbie Erlin pitched well for the Padres in defeat, surrendering two runs on just five hits in seven innings for San Diego. Erlin has pitched well in his two career starts against the Dodgers and will be vying for a spot in the starting rotation next season.
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Austin Hedges, hitless in his last 10-at-bats, seemed to be the only one who could hit Greinke on the night. The rookie catcher went 2-for-3 off Greinke, breaking up Greinke's no-hitter in the third inning, and scoring the Padres only run of the game with a solo shot in the top of the fifth.
"I didn't make a very good pitch on the home run," Greinke said of facing hedges. "He did a good job."
Yasiel Puig returned to the Dodgers lineup after missing the last six weeks with a hamstring injury. Puig started in right field and seemed to have no ill effects from the injury as he chased down every ball hit to him, including the final out of the game.
"I wasn't able to run at 100 percent, but I played the game smartly," Puig said of his start. "Whatever role they decide for me for the playoffs is fine, I will be ready, our goal is to get to the World Series."
Puig went 1-for-3 and extended his hitting streak to 11 games despite not playing since Aug. 27th.
Kenley Jansen earned his 36th save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning.
Nationals Help Dodgers
Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer threw his second no-hitter of the season in a 2-0 victory over the New York Mets. With the Dodgers victory, the first game of the NLDS will be held at Dodger Stadium next Friday, October 9th.
That’s a W and home-field advantage against the Mets! #WeLoveLA pic.twitter.com/0QRL87a0A7 — Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 4, 2015
Game Notes:
Greinke won the MLB ERA title for the second time in his career (2009).
Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke become the first duo since Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax to have at least 200 strikeouts in consecutive seasons.
