WASHINGTON -- Zack Greinke hasn't given up a run in more than a month.
The Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander out-pitched Max Scherzer and extended his scoreless-starts streak to six in the Dodgers’ 5-0 victory against the Washington Nationals Sunday afternoon. Greinke extended his pitch count a bit on a sweltering day to get through eight innings, allowing just three hits and striking out 11 batters.
Since 1920, only two other pitchers, Orel Hershiser and Don Drysdale, have gone as many starts without giving up a run. Greinke’s scoreless streak is now at 43 2/3 innings. He lowered his major-league best ERA to 1.30. The last time Greinke gave up a run, Justin Upton was hitting a home run off him in the eighth inning of a June 13 game.
How it happened: Greinke (9-2) carved up Washington’s lineup on a brutally hot day, walking just one. It wasn’t as if he had much run support to work with, as the Dodgers had scored just one run until they erupted for four against the Washington bullpen in the ninth inning. It was a tough day to be a hitter, with a big Bill Miller strike zone and the two best pitchers in the league on the mound.
The Dodgers put Scherzer in some tough spots, but couldn’t do much with them. They loaded the bases in the first inning, but Scherzer struck out Yasiel Puig with a 95-mph fastball right down the middle. Puig had a rough day, striking out in all three plate appearances against Scherzer and one against Casey Janssen. He did have a two-run single off Yunel Escobar’s glove in the ninth.
The Dodgers were ready to pinch hit for Greinke in the eighth inning, but Jimmy Rollins popped up to end the inning and Greinke came out for the eighth. He struck out Ian Desmond and Michael Taylor and got Tyler Moore to ground out. Greinke, who rarely throws much more than 100 pitches, threw 119.
What it means: The Dodgers are hoping to ride Greinke and Clayton Kershaw to their first World Series appearance in 27 years and, lately, they’ve looked good to the task.
Notable: Catcher Yasmani Grandal left the game after being struck in the mask by a foul tip in the sixth inning. The Dodgers did not announce the nature or severity of the injury by the end of the game… First-pitch temperature was 93 degrees with high humidity. Dodgers players draped towels over a bench and the dugout railing to manufacture some shelter from the sun… Manager Don Mattingly rarely lets Andre Ethier face left-handed pitchers, but Mattingly apparently was feeling good about the way Ethier is swinging the bat. He let him face lefty Felipe Rivero with two runners on and one out in the seventh inning. Ethier struck out. That was just Ethier’s 30th plate appearance against a lefty this season.
Up next: The Dodgers travel to Atlanta to open a three-game series Monday at 4:10 p.m. PT. Ex-Brave Brandon Beachy (0-1, 6.75 ERA) makes his second start this season. He’ll be opposed by right-hander Matt Wisler (3-1, 3.10 ERA).