Zack Greinke labors through Dodgers’ 8-5 win over Arizona

ON THE MOUND: Zack Greinke wasn’t at his best as he gave up eight hits and threw 103 pitches in 5 1/3 innings. But he held the Diamondbacks to one run, which allowed him to depart the game with a 6-1 lead and earn his third victory of the season. As a result of Greinke’s relatively short start, the Dodgers had to use five relievers: Paco Rodriguez, Chris Withrow, Paul Maholm, Brandon League and Kenley Jansen. That Jansen was forced to pitch in a game the Dodgers once led 8-2 was entirely League’s fault. League gave up three runs in the ninth inning, forcing Jansen to come in and record the final out.

AT THE PLATE: With left-hander Wade Miley pitching for the Diamondbacks, Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly stacked his lineup with right-handed hitters. Mattingly started Scott Van Slyke in left field, a move that made an immediate difference. Van Slyke doubled in the second inning, advancing Adrian Gonzalez to third base. Van Slyke and Gonzalez both scored on an ensuing bloop single by Juan Uribe to put the Dodgers in front, 2-0. Uribe later collected two more hits, both doubles. Yasiel Puig was two for five with a walk, a run batted in and a run scored.

EXTRA BASES: Mattingly hasn’t named a starter for the Dodgers’ series opener in San Francisco on Tuesday, but Josh Beckett is lined up to pitch on that day. Beckett didn’t report any physical problems, according to Mattingly.

MEDICAL REPORT: Clayton Kershaw threw off a mound, doing so for the first time since he was placed on the disabled list. Kershaw threw 15 pitches, all of them fastballs. But Mattingly said Kershaw wasn’t throwing at maximum effort and still had no timetable for his return. Kershaw has been throwing on nearly a daily basis to maintain his arm strength. Meanwhile, Brian Wilson appears to be close to returning. The sidelined setup man threw 20 pitches at the Dodgers’ nearby spring-training complex. Wilson is eligible to be activated Tuesday.

ON THE FARM: Alex Guerrero, who was sidelined with a strained side muscle, was added to triple-A Albuquerque’s roster. To clear a roster spot for the $28-million Cuban import, the Dodgers released utilityman Brendan Harris.

UP NEXT: Dan Haren (1-0, 0.75) will face the Diamondbacks and Trevor Cahill (0-3, 7.90) at Chase Field at 1 p.m. On the air: TV: SportsNet LA. Radio: 570, 1020 (Spanish).