Dodgers smash Diamondbacks' Greinke
LOS ANGELES -- Corey Seager had three hits, including a double and a home run, drove in three runs and scored twice to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 10-2 rout of the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at Dodger Stadium.
Adrian Gonzalez, Joc Pederson, Justin Turner and Yasmani Grandal each added a home run for the Dodgers, who extended their lead in the National League West to four games over the second-place San Francisco Giants.
The Dodgers beat up on Arizona's Zack Greinke, who was making his first start in Dodger Stadium against his former teammates. Greinke (12-5) served up five home run balls and allowed eight runs in just 4 2/3 innings.
Los Angeles starter Kenta Maeda (14-8) earned his fifth victory in his past six starts. He amassed eight strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings while permitting just one run, one walk and three hits.
After allowing the Diamondbacks' Jean Segura to start the game with a single, Maeda registered 18 successive outs.
When reliever Louis Coleman replaced Maeda in the top of the seventh, the Japanese right-hander received a standing ovation while being serenaded by The Animals' 1964 hit, "The House Of The Rising Sun."
That response provided a sharp contrast with the reception Greinke received. Greinke signed a six-year, $206.5 million free agent contract with Arizona in December after spending three seasons in Los Angeles.
Fans booed Greinke loudly while the starting lineup was announced after greeting the rest of the Diamondbacks with silence, and when he went to the plate for the first time in the third inning.
Greinke retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced before the hosts took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning.
Seager began the inning by lining a double off the base of the fence down the right field line. One out later. Gonzalez propelled a rising 92 mph fastball into the stands down that foul line for his 17th home run of the year.
In the fifth, the Dodgers rocked Greinke for four more homers in building an 8-0 lead. Pederson started the rally with one out by sending Greinke's 86 mph slider over the center field fence for his 20th home run.
Maeda and Chase Utley (2-for-5) followed with singles, and then Seager sent an 89 mph changeup into the first row of the bleachers in left-center field for a three-run drive, his 24th homer this year.
Turner, the next batter, went a few rows better. Turner earned his 25th homer by depositing Greinke's 92 mph fastball halfway up the bleachers in left-center field. One out later, Grandal hit another 92 mph fastball inside the right field foul pole for his 25th to chase Greinke.
The former Dodger received another chorus of boos when he walked back to the Arizona dugout. He conceded nine hits and finished with six strikeouts. The five home runs he allowed were a career high.
Arizona broke the shutout in the top of the seventh. Chris Owings (2-for-4) lined a leadoff single to right field, took second base when Paul Goldschmidt walked with one out and scored when Jake Lamb bounced a single past a diving Utley at second base.
NOTES: Arizona 2B Jean Segura is the first player in team history to collect at least 30 hits in each of a season's first five months. Luis Gonzalez was the first Diamondbacks player to register at least 30 hits a month for five successive months between May-September 2000. ... Diamondbacks C Welington Castillo has driven in at least one run in his past five games, matching the longest such streak of his career. ... Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke is one of five pitchers to win at least eight successive starts at Dodger Stadium. Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax won 10 in succession in 1964. ... Los Angeles recalled LHP Luis Avilan from Triple-A Oklahoma City. ... Dodgers RHP Brandon McCarthy (right hip stiffness) made a rehab start for Class A Rancho Cucamonga on Monday, and he allowed 10 runs (five earned) on nine hits in four innings.