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While not every notable pitcher making his debut for a new team enjoyed Friday's baseball events (conspiratorial whisper: Dan Haren), Zack Greinke -- he of the six-year, $147-million pact -- was in vintage form in his first start as a Los Angeles Dodger.
At home against the Pirates, Greinke worked 6 1/3 shutout innings, gave up just two hits, struck out six and walked none. Of his 92 pitches on the night, 56 went for strikes, and at one point Greinke retired 14 consecutive batters. If not for a Garrett Jones second-inning single that could've been ruled an error on second baseman Mark Ellis, Greinke would've carried a perfect game into the seventh.
As for Greinke's velocity readings, his four-seamer averaged just 90.7 mph on the night, per BrooksBaseball.net, but it topped out at 94.8, which is in line with his career norms. That's not bad considering Greinke was limited to just four spring starts because of elbow inflammation.
For Greinke and the Dodgers, so far, so very good.
