Field Level Media
Jul 14, 2018
Arizona right-hander Zack Grienke pitched 7 2/3 shutout innings and won his fifth straight decision, a 3-0 Diamondbacks' victory over the host Atlanta Braves on Saturday at SunTrust Park.
Grienke (10-5) allowed just four hits, no walks and struck out seven in winning his fifth straight road start. Over his last six starts, Grienke has a 1.67 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 38 innings. He has not been beaten by Atlanta since 2011, when he played for Milwaukee.
Grienke left the game one out after Dansby Swanson singled. Left-handed reliever Andrew Chafin walked Charlie Culberson, but right-hander Archie Bradley struck out Ozzie Albies to end the threat. It was the league-leading 26th hold for the bearded Bradley.
Brad Boxberger pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his 24th save, his second of the series. He allowed a hit to Nick Markakis, who extended his hitting streak to seven games, but struck out the side for the second straight game.
The victory was Arizona's 53rd, matching a team record for most wins before the All-Star Game. The Diamondbacks are 10-3 in their last 13 road games and have won the first two games of the three-game series in Atlanta. It ensured Arizona its 17th series victory of the season.
Atlanta starter Sean Newcomb (8-5) went 5 2/3 innings and allowed three runs on four hits and three walks. Newcomb settled down after surviving a 36-pitch first inning that saw him leave the bases loaded.
Arizona got its first run in the first inning. Steven Souza Jr. singled home Paul Goldschmidt with the bases loaded.
The Diamondbacks scored a run in the fourth when Jeff Mathis doubled home Chris Owings.
Arizona made it 3-0 in the sixth on a line-drive homer from Ketel Marte, his ninth. Marte had been 0-for-10 on the road trip.
The Braves managed only five hits, two of them by Swanson. Atlanta has lost eight of its last 10.
Atlanta made a roster move on Saturday. The Braves placed closer Arodys Vizcaino on the 10-day disabled list with right shoulder soreness for the second time this summer and activated veteran Peter Moylan.
--Field Level Media