Mets end Zack Greinke's scoreless-inning streak

Zack Greinke had his 45.2-inning scoreless streak snapped on Sunday by a fielder’s choice hit by Jacob deGrom in the third inning. Greinke’s streak was the fourth-longest in modern major league history, trailing only Orel Hershiser and Hall of Famers Bob Gibson and Don Drysdale.

Greinke started the bottom of the third inning by hitting Mets center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis with a pitch, and then allowing a single to catcher Kevin Plawecki. Jacob deGrom then chopped an 0-2 pitch to first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, whose throw home was a little too late. Nieuwenhuis slid just under Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal’s tag to score the opening run.

Greinke, a former Cy Young Award winner and 2015 All-Star, entered Sunday’s game at Citi Field with a 1.30 ERA. He hadn’t allowed a run in his last six starts, stretching back to his June 18 start against the Texas Rangers. During his previous six starts, Greinke had amassed a remarkable 42 strikeouts against only 4 walks. Opposing batters have only hit .187 against Greinke all season, the lowest mark in the major leagues.

Greinke was scheduled to pitch Friday’s game against the Mets, but he was put on paternity leave Thursday and flew back to Los Angeles to be with his wife during the birth of their first child. Reliever Ian Thomas made a spot start for Greinke in a win over the Mets.