Zack Greinke tossed six quality innings as the D-backs snapped a six-game losing streak by beating the Braves, 7-2, on Friday night at Turner Field in the first game of a three-game series.
The D-backs gave Greinke (3-2) some early run support thanks to an RBI single by Nick Ahmed in the second and they capitalized on an error by Braves third baseman Reid Brignac to score a pair of runs in the third. David Peralta had an RBI single in that third inning, and Brandon Drury added his sixth home run of the season in the sixth.
“We didn’t help ourselves with catching the baseball,” said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez. “You have to catch the ball behind [Blair]. The veteran guys can cover it up, the Greinkes can cover it up a little bit and he did today but some of the younger guys you can’t. You can’t extend innings.”
The Braves finally managed to break through against Greinke in the sixth when Adonis Garcia and Tyler Flowers each had RBI singles. It was not enough to spare Aaron Blair (0-2) from the loss. Blair was facing the team that drafted him and dealt him to Atlanta this past winter. After the game, the Braves optioned Garcia to Triple-A Gwinnett and activated Ender Inciarte off the disabled list.
The D-backs stumbled into Atlanta on a six-game slide and were in desperate need of a victory against the team with the worst record in baseball. Greinke did what aces are supposed to do — deliver a quality outing to help stop a bad streak. That’s the pitcher the D-backs were expecting when they signed Greinke to a six-year, $206.5 million deal last December.
Blair wasn’t sharp with four walks in his five innings, but he again competed and gave the Braves a chance to rally. Blair, who has now pitched at least five innings in each of his first three Major League starts, allowed three runs (two earned), and threw 92 pitches, including 54 strikes — both career highs.
The Braves had their ninth game this season with at least 10 hits, but also their 13th double-digit-strikeout game. It was the second straight 10-plus strikeout game for Atlanta and its sixth in the last 10 games. The Braves had seven such games over their first 18. Friday was the fifth time the Braves had at least 10 hits and at least 10 strikeouts. All of them have been at Turner Field and they are now 0-5 in those games.
The Braves throw their ace, Julio Teheran, against the D-backs at 6:10 p.m. CT tonight in game #2 of the series with Arizona. While Teheran is winless on the season, he’s pitched seven innings in back-to-back starts, allowing only one run and eight hits in those two starts, and is 3-1 with a 2.17 lifetime ERA against the D-Backs. Thunder Radio will bring you the broadcast of the game beginning at 6 PM.
