Kansas City, Mo. — Zack Greinke dealt with the elements about as well as the New York Yankees lineup.
Greinke threw eight scoreless innings, and the Kansas City Royals defeated the banged-up Yankees, 4-0, on a rainy Wednesday night.
Greinke (2-0) gave up six hits, walked two and struck out two, lowering his earned-run average to 0.60.
"Even when it looked bad on the pitcher's mound, it really wasn't that bad," Greinke said. "I did have a hard time with the grip. It's just a little tougher with the rain drops, not so much the ground."
Greinke said it "crossed my mind" in the second inning when the rain was heavy that the game might be called or delayed.
"I'm like, 'If it rains, I'm still coming back out because I still feel fine,"' Greinke said. "All I was thinking, they better let me pitch if there is a rain delay. Sometimes they cut you off."
With rain in the forecast, Yankees manager Joe Girardi scratched starter Ian Kennedy and started Brian Bruney. It was Bruney's first career start after 157 relief appearances.
The umpires, however, allowed the teams to play through the rain, which started in the first inning. By the time Girardi went to Kennedy in the sixth, the Yankees trailed 2-0.
The Yankees have two runs in their last 19 innings and have scored 25 in nine games this season. Only the Detroit Tigers (22) have fewer runs in the American League.
New York is hitting .244 on the season.
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