Dodgers News: Zack Greinke Details Adjustments For Game 2 Win
After losing Game 1 with Clayton Kershaw on the mound, the Los Angeles Dodgers turned to their other ace, Zack Greinke, for Game 2 with the goal of tying the National League Division Series against the New York Mets before heading to Citi Field.
Greinke did what he’s done all season long, putting together another quality outing and giving his team a chance to win. Though it wasn’t without an early scare, as he gave up two solo home runs in the second inning.
They were the only two runs Greinke allowed in seven innings of work, during which he collected eight strikeouts. ” [Yoenis] Cespedes [home run], I thought I was still making pretty good pitches and wasn’t like not what I was trying to do, but it wasn’t perfect either,” Greinke said.
“He just did a good job of hitting and got a home run out of it. Hit the ball well, and he’s dangerous. I made a really bad pitch to [Michael] Conforto, and he did what he should. I threw more offspeed than normal because they were hitting my fastball, so I was trying out something else, and the off speed was working,” Greinke continued.
The Dodgers offense finally broke through in the seventh inning, scoring four runs to take their first lead of the series. Two of those runs came on a double by Adrian Gonzalez, who had been struggling a bit, striking out in six of his previous seven at-bats.
Despite Gonzalez’s troubles in the series, Greinke wasn’t worried about the first baseman. “I would think from both teams he’d be the first guy everyone would want up in an RBI situation, including their team and our team,” Greinke said.
“He’s just the best at it. I think he got an RBI [Friday], too. His one hit was RBI. So he’s just that type of hitter.” Greinke, who may win the NL Cy Young Award, can opt out of his contract after this season. Though, Saturday’s start potentially being his last at home with the Dodgers wasn’t something that weighed on him.
“I mean, when you’re out there you’re not thinking about those things,” Greinke said. “I mean, maybe in a regular season game when your team’s not going to make the playoffs, you might think that. But a playoff game you’re just trying to win the game and not thinking about other things like that.”
The series now shifts to New York for Games 3 and 4. If Kershaw starts Game 4 on short rest, as expected, Greinke would take the mound in the deciding Game 5 at Dodger Stadium, if necessary.
