Cy Young candidate Zack Greinke can bat-flip with the best of them
By now everyone who follows baseball knows about Zack Greinke’s prowess on the mound. The Dodgers star is a Cy Young front runner on account of leading the majors in bWAR for pitchers (6.4), earned-run average (1.71), win percentage (.846), and he’s second in WHIP (.0853).
But did you know he can swing a mean bat, too?
Greinke showed off his home-run power on Thursday – and topped it off with a bat-flip that would put teammate Yasiel Puig to shame. In the top of the third inning, with two outs, Greinke sent the first pitch he saw from Phillies starter David Buchanan into the seats in deep left-center field. The solo shot put the Dodgers ahead 7-5 and they went on to win 10-8, with Greinke improving to 11-2. Greinke, in fact, went 3-for-3 on the day with the one RBI and three runs scored.
He’s got the home-run trot down, too.
Maybe he was extra motivated at the plate because he wasn’t getting it done on the mound. Greinke had his worth start of the season, going six innings and surrendering six earned runs on seven hits. It raised his ERA from 1.41 to 1.71. The six earned runs were the most he’s given up in a game since August 19, 2012, when he was with the Angels.
But he got it done at the dish, as he has for most of his career. Small sample size alert on account of being a pitcher, but since joining the Dodgers in 2013 he’s slashed .250/.306/.345 with two home runs and nine RBIs in 198 plate appearances. Those numbers are the best among National League pitchers who bat regularly, though Madison Bumgarner of the Giants has clubbed seven home runs, including three already this season.
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Ian Denomme is an editor and writer for Yahoo Sports. Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter.
