Bryce Harper Isn't Impressed by Zack Greinke's Scoreless Streak

Color him unimpressed, but Bryce Harper wasn't in the mood to throw out superlatives for Zack Greinke after the Washington Nationals' 5-0 home loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.

Harper's rough day at the dish (one hit in three at-bats, two strikeouts) ended with words for home plate umpire Bill Miller. The Washington Post's Chelsea Janes took notes on the exchange, which occurred after the Nationals outfielder's strikeout in the seventh inning.

According to Janes, Harper struck out swinging after a premature trot toward first base on a previous pitch—an inside fastball he presumed would be called ball four. 

After striking out, Harper yelled something and stomped back to the dugout, and thus, the foundation for his measured postgame remarks on Greinke was laid.

When asked about the Dodgers All-Star's dominant day on the mound (three hits allowed, 11 strikeouts), Harper spoke coolly, per CSN Washington's Chase Hughes. He described Greinke as "OK," "good" and "great" throughout the presser, but he said the hurler's pitching received help from questionable umping Sunday.

"I think [Greinke] was OK. When you're getting five to six inches off of the plate, you better win the game," Harper said. "For me, I don't think he was very tough. He's a great pitcher, he does what he does, but when you're getting six inches off the plate it's pretty tough to face him."

This is a particularly spicy take on Greinke, who extended his streak of scoreless innings pitched to 43.2 on Sunday—the longest scoreless pitching streak since Orel Hershiser tossed 59 consecutive in 1988, according to Hughes.

But then again, Harper is Harper, and he's not going to lavish too much praise on Greinke because he has to play him again.

"[Greinke's] a good pitcher. He's doing what he's doing to help that team over there, but I don't want to give him too much credit because I've gotta face him again," Harper said. "That's the biggest thing. I don't really want to give him too much credit because of that reason, but he's a damn good pitcher."

When asked what he thought about Greinke's scoreless streak, Harper claimed ignorance.

"I don't know. I don't watch him so I have really no idea what he's doing," Harper said. "I couldn't tell you. Maybe ask some people on the west. I don't really watch him, so."

So...don't expect a chorus of opponent-praising from Harper after a tough matchup. Maybe ask him about the umpire, who is no longer invited to the Harper family picnic this fall.

Dan is on Twitter. He refuses to praise other writers after a rough day on the blog.