Dodgers 2 Reds 1: The Zack Greinke Show

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Breath everybody, breath, Zack Greinke dominated and did something extremely fun, the bullpen didn’t muck it up beyond repair, Kenley Jansen dominated for 4 outs (save that stuff for the playoffs!) and the Dodgers won a nailbiter versus the Reds 2-1

This. This is freaking cooooool. The Dodgers have the two best starters in the entire National League by FIP based WAR, by the eye test, and 2/3 according to ERA, the top of the rotation has been historically great in 2015 as Greinke pitched 7 innings pitched of 1 run baseball, striking out 8, only walking one while lowering his league leading ERA to a tiny 1.58, we are 8 implodeless starts from seeing an all time great season completed. A fun statistical quirk found in Greinke’s line is that he has as many walks as runs given up, the control that man has sustained for the season is legendary, call him what you will (overrated by the run prevention metrics), the control has been better than any Dodger i’ve ever seen.

Oh and HE HIT THE GAME WINNING DINGER

This is the first time a Dodgers pitcher hit the decisive game “winning” dinger since Clayton Kershaw, on opening day 2013 and the first decisive game winning dinger in a 1 run game since Odalis Perez. Oh my lord has this season been fun watching Greinke.

Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Not to be upstaged by some “okay” pitching, Joc Pederson hit the game tying home run to dead center right before Greinke’s dong to tie the game up at 1. For the past  few weeks his approach has been fine, the average will never be something to be “proud” of but the power/walk combination is his calling card. 23 home runs from your CF and we’re still in August? Pretty alright. Pedro Baez looked good, pitching two thirds of a clean inning, his K/9 sits at a nice 10.95, his BB/9 is only 1.95, more useage out of him in those kind of situations is what’s best for the team at this point.

J.P. Howell relieved him, which was an okay move at the time considering Pedro Baez vs Joey Votto is not something that should ever happen ever, but Howell walked him and Kenley Jansen came in for a 4 out save (!). Jansen shut down the Reds in the 8th, enacting a few (hundred) “down goes Frazier” jokes, and came out for the 9th and put the Reds to rest on 19 total pitches.

Really, this is an awesome win with your co-ace on the mound. Considering the Nationals are a total garbage fire of a team, the Dodgers are lucky to have a 2.5 game lead in the division going into a 2 game set against the Athletics in which they will miss Sonny Gray with Kershaw going next.

Cool and good Sunday imo.