Zack Greinke made another savvy defensive play during Royals’ win Thursday

Following the Royals’ 4-3 win over the Guardians on Thursday, starting pitcher Zack Greinke noted the help he got thanks to Cleveland baserunners.

“I think there was three extra outs on the bases, which helped,” Greinke told reporters. “They win a lot of games doing that (being aggressive) and it just kind of worked out good for us today.”

Greinke, a six-time Gold Glove Award winner, also helped himself in the fifth inning.

The Guardians had already scored two runs and Josh Bell was at first base when Andres Gimenez blooped a hit into short left field. Royals third baseman Matt Duffy attempted to make the catch but it was out of reach.

Shortstop Maikel Garcia initially charged after the ball, too, but peeled back when he realized the ball would land in the grass and no one was covering third.

Bell noted the Royals infielders had gone after the ball and tried going first to third on the play. But there was one player who knew to cover third: Greinke.

Left fielder MJ Melendez fired the ball to Greinke at third and Bell was tagged out. The Guardians challenged the out call, but the play stood.

“It was a heads-up play,” Guardians broadcaster Rick Manning noted, “because everyone was going out to get that ball and the only person who could receive that throw was Greinke.”

Here is the savvy play by. Greinke.

That was the 336th putout of Greinke’s career, the seventh-most by a pitcher in Major League Baseball history.