Tucson takes Game 2 behind Greinke, Cruz

Nelson Cruz powered the offense with a 3-run home run and Zach Greinke delivered a fine performance over 7 innings to give No. 1 Tucson a 5-3 win over 5th-seeded Allentown in Game 2 of their semifinal tilt.

Tucson has held serve with two home wins and now leads the series 2-0 with Games 3 and 4 in Allentown on Wednesday and Thursday. Game 3 is expected to be a southpaw extravaganza, with Jon Lester for the Scorpions against David Price for the Mules.

The Mules made the most of their hits, leaving just 2 on base and scoring 3 runs on 4 hits. Giancarlo Stanton made Greinke pay for a leadoff walk to Adrian Gonzalez in the 2nd with a homer deep down the left-field line, giving Allentown an early 2-0 lead on just one hit.

Tucson returned fire in the 3rd. Michael Brantley led off with a single, and between outs, Marcell Ozuna later walked to put men on 1st and 2nd. Nelson Cruz promptly deposited Jamie Garcia's next offering into the left-field seats for a 3-2 Scorpions lead.

Allentown scratched out another run in the 5th to tie the game. Manny Machado led off the inning with a double and advanced to 3rd on a wild pitch before coming home on Erick Aybar's sacrifice fly to left.

Again, Tucson responded in the next inning. Cruz doubled to lead off the 6th and took 3rd on a single by Darin Ruf. A.J. Ellis broke the tie with a sac fly to score Cruz for a 4-3 lead. A Troy Tulowitzki single put runners at the corners and the Mules went to the bullpen for Joakim Soria. The Scorpions added an insurance run when catcher Yadier Molina tried to pick off Ruf at 3rd but threw it away. Ruf scampered home to make it 5-3. Between a single and an intentional walk, Soria eventually escaped the 6th without further damage.

Greinke scattered 4 hits over 7 innings but was tagged for 3 runs. He struck out 7 and walked 2 in 106 pitches for the win. His second walk was erased on a double play to end the 7th. Greinke was pulled after a leadoff single to pinch hitter Nick Markakis in the 8th. Dellin Betances and Tony Watson came on and struck out 4 of the last 6 batters to preserve the win, earning a hold for Betances and the second save of the series for Watson.

Garcia took the loss. He was charged with all 5 runs on 7 hits over 5 1/3 innings while walking 2 and striking out 5. Soria worked around trouble through 1 2/3 innings and Huston Street tossed a perfect 9th for the Mules.

Cruz led all batters with 2 hits, 2 runs and 3 RBI.