Dodgers beat Diamondbacks, will know more on Zack Greinke Friday

GLENDALE -- The Dodgers picked up their first win of the Cactus League on Thursday in their home opener, beating a split squad Diamondbacks team 4-3 at Camelback Ranch, but the talk of postgame was Zack Greinke, who left just four pitches into his start with a mild strain of his right quad.

Manager Don Mattingly reiterated what Greinke said, that they will know more after a night of icing the quad. But as of now, Greinke is still in line to make three more Cactus League starts and potentially pitch in Australia.

But Mattingly stressed that it's still early and it's good Greinke was open about the injury.

"The good thing about Zack is that some guys would say, 'No I'm fine' and keep going. Zack's smart enough to know that he'll just shut it down right away, that he's got time right now," Mattingly said. "He's always up front and always honest."

Mattingly also pointed out the shortened spring and this type of injury is why he is preparing four pitchers to start in Australia, even though there are only two games.

"It's the reason we get four guys ready. We know that at any moment something like that can happen," Mattingly said. "Everybody has to get ready. Everybody is still lined up able to be set up for Australia. We're going to keep working toward that."

Frivolity

I enjoyed this aside from Vin Scully, watching a young fan on the berm.

Notes

• Alexander Guerrero had two hits, including an RBI single in the eighth inning for a much-needed insurance run. "It's a big hit for him, to be able to come through," Mattingly said.
• Juan Uribe homered and singled in his two plate appearances and drove in the first two Dodgers runs.
• Brendan Harris played the final four innings at shortstop on Thursday and singled in his only at-bat. Mattingly said that Harris, Justin Turner and Chone Figgins, all three non-roster invitees vying for utility spot on the bench, would play a lot of second base, third base and shortstop this spring, and even outfield in the case of Figgins.
• Daniel Moskos struck out all three batters he faced in a perfect sixth inning.

Up next

The battle of Camelback Ranch rages on Friday, with the Dodgers and White Sox squaring off at 12:05 p.m. PT. Hyun-Jin Ryu gets the start for the Dodgers, the designated home team, while Chris Sale starts for Chicago.

Thursday particulars

Home runs: Juan Uribe (1)

WP - Pedro Baez (1-0): 1 IP, 1 hit

LP - Marcos Mateo (0-1): 1 IP, 2 hits, 1 run, 1 strikeout

Sv - Carlos Frias (1): 1 IP, 2 hits, 1 run, 1 strikeout