It was clear early on that Monday’s series opener between the Diamondbacks and Dodgers was not going to proceed as planned.
Diamondbacks right-hander Zack Greinke surrendered three runs on four hits in the first inning only to be matched by Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw, who allowed a three-run homer by Christian Walker in the bottom half of the frame.
Greinke and Kershaw, former teammates, are on Hall of Fame trajectories. Both pitchers went six innings and allowed four runs on seven hits. Greinke’s season ERA now stands at 3.08; Kershaw is at 3.07.
Even despite the first-inning blunders, neither starting pitcher seemed destined to best the other.