Post-Game 131 Thread: Greinke Digs Deep

DODGERS 6, CUBS 2

Remember that hangover Gnomes was feeling back on Monday? Well the pain had infected most of us other Sons as well (save SoSG Stubbs, who is busy rehearsing for the Australia / New Zealand leg of the One Direction tour), so we didn't get around to this PGT, either. Nothing like an off-day to catch up on old business!

Meanwhile, keeping focused on the tasks at hand was Zack Greinke, who tried to get the CGSHO but fell just a bit short in his quest:

Zack Greinke had been badgering manager Don Mattingly for a month to let him pitch deeper into games.

Mattingly finally obliged, even getting booed by Los Angeles Dodgers fans when he made a mound visit to Greinke late in the game against the Chicago Cubs on Monday night.

"Then I don't do the job," Greinke said after coming within one strike of his fifth career shutout in the Dodgers' 6-2 victory that ended their two-game skid.

Greinke got the first two outs of the ninth before running into trouble. Anthony Rizzo doubled, and then Greinke hit Nate Schierholtz. Greinke had a 3-2 count on Brian Bogusevic before he doubled to deep left to score Chicago's two runs.

"It was frustrating," Greinke said. "I made some good pitches. Rizzo had a nice hit. The pitch to Schierholtz was pretty close to where you want to throw it, and it hit him. I'm more frustrated I couldn't get him (Bogusevic) out. Did everything you could but just didn't happen."

Brian Wilson came in to strike out Donnie Murphy for the final out.

"I knew he really wanted to stay in the game," Mattingly said of Greinke. "I'm a little torn with it, honestly. I wanted to keep him at 115 (pitches, Greinke threw 122), but he's earned the right to go for it."

Look, 8.2 IP of 5 H, 2 ER ball (2 BB, 9 Ks) is nothing at which to slouch. Greinke did great, and it was more than enough to let Carl Crawford's 2 RBIs stand up, not to mention HRs from Hanley Ramirez and Yasiel Puig (who went 3-for-5 on the evening). Nick Punto threw in an RBI, as did Greinke himself (scoring the first run of the game).

Good for Greinke to dig deep and get the win. I just hope the Dodgers win this series with the Cubs.