Houston Astros vs Arizona Diamondbacks Match Player Stats On Aug 14, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Aug 15, 2017

PHOENIX -- Zack Greinke proved to be Arizona's stopper once again, shutting out slumping Houston over 6 2/3 innings as the Diamondbacks beat the Astros 2-0 Monday night.

Run-scoring doubles by Ketel Marte and J.D. Martinez were the difference.

Greinke, Jorge De La Rosa, Archie Bradley and Fernando Rodney combined for Arizona's sixth shutout of the season and the fifth against the division-leading Astros, who dropped their sixth in seven games and 10th in 13 games.

Greinke (14-5) allowed five hits and two walks while striking out nine. He won for the eighth time in a row following a Diamondbacks loss. Greinke hasn't lost in such a situation since April 24 and is 8-1 with a 2.27 ERA overall this season after a team loss.

Arizona leads the majors with a 10-1 interleague record this season, while Houston is 9-2. Greinke is 23-12 in interleague games during his career.

The Diamondbacks, remaining in a tie with Colorado for the NL wild-card lead, had dropped six of eight, including two of three to both the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs.

Greinke bounced back after his first loss at Chase Field this season, 3-2 to the Dodgers on Wednesday, and now is 11-1 at home this season. He was especially tough in AL batting leader Jose Altuve, striking him out three consecutive times -- only the fifth three-strikeout game of Altuve's career and his first since 2014. Altuve came in 9-for-18 against Greinke.

Greinke left following Derek Fisher's two-out single in the seventh, with De La Rosa coming in to strike out Juan Centeno. Bradley worked a scoreless eighth before Rodney earned his 27th save in 32 opportunities.

The Diamondbacks played some National League-style ball against the former NL member Astros, stretching line-drive hits into the outfield into doubles multiple times -- a useful weapon as Astros starter Collin McHugh (0-2) pitched effectively in his fifth start since a shoulder injury put him on the 60-day disabled list. He gave up two runs and six hits over 5 2/3 innings, striking out six and walking one.

McHugh got the first two batters in the second -- partly due to right fielder Josh Reddick's exceptional sliding catch of Martinez's line drive into the gap -- but Daniel Descalso hustled his way to a double on a line drive to right-center. Marte, reaching base for a 14th consecutive game, followed with a RBI double to right.

The Diamondbacks doubled up again in the sixth, as Paul Goldschmidt doubled with one out and Martinez stretched his line drive to center into an RBI double.

Jake Lamb also had two doubles for Arizona.

NOTES: Arizona manager Torey Lovullo gave Phoenix Suns coach Earl Watson a personalized Diamondbacks jersey before the game. Lovullo liked how Suns players such as Devin Booker supported Arizona RHP Archie Bradley when the reliever called out the many Dodgers fans as Chase Field, yelling, "This is our house!" ... Houston RHP Tyler Clippard arrived in time to be in uniform -- his seventh different one in three years -- after being traded by the White Sox. He pitched a scoreless eighth inning. ... Diamondbacks OF David Peralta was placed on the paternity leave list after wife gave birth to a daughter. ... Arizona LHP Robbie Ray (concussion) will make a rehab start for Class A Visalia on Thursday. ... The Cubs-Diamondbacks weekend series at Chase Field drew 123,110, Arizona's largest since the team clinched the NL West against the Giants from Sept. 23-25, 2011.