Zack Greinke threw seven shutout innings against the Mariners Tuesday night, but it wasn’t enough to secure his first victory of the season. Greinke (0-2) scattered six hits over seven innings, while striking out five and walking none. Unfortunately for him, he’s still a Royal, which means the team supported him with only two runs scored, which is actually a good night for the Kansas City offense. Last season the Royals scored zero runs for Greinke four times, and only one run on two more occasions.
Royals Fail To Support Winless Zack Greinke Again
↵Moreover, the Royal bullpen was required to get three outs before handing the ball to closer Joakim Soria, because, as we know closers can only pitch in the 9th inning. Instead of preserving the inherited 2-0 lead, the magical trio of Josh Rupe, Robinson Tejeda, and Bruce Chen allowed more base-runners in one inning than Greinke had in seven, and the Mariners put together the kind of excruciatingly deliberate “rally” than only their offense can. You don’t typically see rallies follow a bunt single, walk, single, ground ball off the pitcher’s glove for a double, walk, walk, sequence, but that’s exactly what the Mariners got en route to a 3-2 lead and a victory. It would have been terribly gauche to use your closer amidst that meltdown, so bully for Trey Hillman for not doing so.
↵Greinke remains 0-2, in the incredibly meaningless yet somehow still meaningful pitching W-L stat, despite posting a 2.56 ERA. Nevertheless, maybe Greinke should be happy, all he walks away with from this game, is a no decision, thanks to those glorious two runs the Royals scored... against Ian Snell.
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