Greinke takes no-hitter into eighth inning as Diamondbacks hold on to beat Pirates 2-1
>> PHOENIX: Zack Greinke’s bid for his first career no-hitter was thwarted by Pittsburgh’s Gregory Polanco’s leadoff home run in the eighth inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks held on to beat the Pirates 2-1 on Thursday night.
Greinke (4-2), who dominated the Pirates with a vicious slider, allowed that one hit in eight innings. He struck out 11 and walked one.
Fernando Rodney pitched a scoreless ninth for his ninth save in 11 tries.
Greinke faced the minimum 21 batters through seven innings. Jordy Mercer led off the third with a walk but was thrown out trying to steal second.
Gerrit Cole (1-4) allowed two runs and seven hits in seven innings. He struck out five and walked one. The Pirates have scored five runs total in Cole’s last five starts.
In Denver, Jeff Hoffman struck out eight to earn his first major league win, Carlos Gonzalez showed signs of breaking out of a slump with a twohit, three-RBI night and the Rockies held off the Dodgers 10-7.
Ian Desmond and Nolan Arenado each added two doubles to help the Rockies extend their lead in the NL West to 2½ games over the Dodgers. At 23-13, the Rockies are off to the best start in team history.
Hoffman (1-0) allowed three runs over 5-1/3 efficient innings after being recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque earlier in the day. He becomes the latest rookie to shine this season on the mound for Colorado.
Dodgers lefty Ryu Hyun-Jin (1-5) surrendered 10 runs, five earned, and walked six over four innings. He was reinstated from the disabled list before the game after recovering from a bruised hip.
In Milwaukee, Mookie Betts’ threerun home run in the ninth inning lifted the Red Sox to a 4-1 victory over the Brewers.
It was Betts’ fifth homer of the season and third in his last four games, and helped Boston salvage one win in the three-game series in the Red Sox’s first trip to Milwaukee since 2003.
Boston’s right fielder enjoyed his time at Miller Park, as he went 7 for 11 with eight runs batted in and five runs scored.
Milwaukee closer Neftali Feliz (0-4) came on in the ninth, but managed to get only one out. Red Sox pitcher Craig Kimbrel (2-0) got the final five outs as Boston snapped the Brewers’ three-game winning streak.
In St Petersburg, Florida, Major League ERA leader Jason Vargas went seven more scoreless innings, Salvador Perez had a two-run double during a five-run eighth inning and the Royals beat the Rays 6-0.
Vargas (5-1) scattered three hits and dropped his ERA from 1.19 to 1.01.
Jorge Bonifacio hit an RBI single off Diego Moreno in the decisive eighth before Whit Merrifield had a run-scoring single and then circled the bases when center fielder Kevin Kiermaier misplayed the hit for a three-base error.
Merrifield also homered for the Royals, who won three of four against the Rays. Kansas City had lost 13 of 16 entering the series.
In New York, defensive replacement Jake Marisnick made a perfect throw from left field to nail Jacoby Ellsbury at the plate for the final out and the Astros held off the Yankees 3-2 in a match-up between teams with the best records in baseball.
Unbeaten Dallas Keuchel (6-0) became the first six-game winner in the majors, helped by a home run from Carlos Correa. The Astros won their fourth in a row and improved to 24-11 — their top mark after 35 games since the franchise began playing in 1962.
Ken Giles wound up with his 10th save in 11 tries, saved by Marisnick.
In Toronto, Steve Pearce hit a three-run home run, Justin Smoak had a solo homer and finished with four RBIs, and the Blue Jays beat the Mariners 7-2.
Marco Estrada (2-2) allowed two runs over six innings for the Blue Jays, who have won four of five.
In the other games, the Rangers beat the Padres 5-2, the Twins outlasted the White Sox 7-6, the Tigers routed the Angels 7-1 and the Reds edged the Giants 3-2.