Zack Greinke beats Dallas Keuchel in a 3-0 D-Backs win over the Astros on Thursday afternoon in Houston. Zack Greinke pitched seven outstanding innings for the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 2015 starting pitcher in the All-Star game for the National League held the Houston hitters to just four singles, and retired 17 of the first 18 batters he faced. He struck out 11 Astros batters and allowed no walks, improving his record on the year to 7-3. Dallas Keuchel also had a shutout going into the seventh, but then allowed the first four batters in the inning to reach base. One of those hits looked like a routine double play ball. With runners on first and second and no outs in the inning, the Astros employed a poorly executed shift, expecting a bunt on the first two pitches to the D-Backs seven hole batter Chris Owings. On the second pitch, Owings grounded the pitch through the vacated shortstop position, and on into left center field for a RBI single. Arizona was able to tack on a third run with two consecutive fly ball outs to Carlos Gomez in Center Field off relief pitcher Pat Neshek. The first one advanced both runners from first and second. The next scored Jake Lamb from third base.
Zack Greinke beats Dallas Keuchel to end Astros win streak
The Astros defeat ended their longest winning streak of the season at five games. That five game streak included three straight over Arizona, before the Diamondbacks were able to salvage the final game of a four game home and home series. The only real highlight for Houston came in the eighth inning, when Arizona’s Michael Bourn was ruled safe at second on a stolen base. The throw by Houston catcher Evan Gattis and tag by second baseman Jose Altuve appeared to get the runner before he reached second. Even though the Astros had already used their challenge, Houston manager A.J. Hinch came out to ask home plate umpire Ron Kulpa is they were sure about the call? After he conferred with the second base umpire Jerry Meals, they agreed to take another look at the play. Replay video clearly showed that Jose Altuve applied the tag on Michael Bourn’s sleeve before he reached the bag, and the call was reversed.
