Zack Greinke is sharp in another Dodgers’ defeat of Diamondbacks

ON THE MOUND: Zack Greinke was brilliant, pitching eight shutout innings to improve to 7-1. With the Dodgers ahead by seven runs, Manager Don Mattingly called on a slumping Brian Wilson to pitch the ninth inning. Wilson walked the leadoff batter, Martin Prado, but prevented him from scoring.

AT THE PLATE: With left-hander Wade Miley starting for the Diamondbacks, right-handed-hitting Scott Van Slyke started in left field instead of the left-handed-hitting Andre Ethier or Carl Crawford. Van Slyke was two for five with a home run, a double and two runs scored. A.J. Ellis drove in Van Slyke with a fourth-inning single and scored from first base on an ensuing double by Greinke. Ellis, who recently returned from knee surgery and is considered one of the Dodgers’ slower players, joked, “Two surgically repaired knees. I’m healthy.” Hanley Ramirez showed signs of breaking out of his slump, as he drove in Yasiel Puig with a seventh-inning double. Ramirez nearly had another base hit in the third inning, when he lined out to right field.

ON THE MEND: Hyun-Jin Ryu threw a four-inning simulated game and could be on track to return next week. “It went really well,” Mattingly said. Mattingly wouldn’t say what the Dodgers have planned next for Ryu, but made it sound as if he could rejoin the rotation without pitching in the minor leagues first. Part of that is because of how sharp Ryu looked in a recent bullpen session. “His ‘pen the other day was just ridiculous,” Mattingly said. “A guy who hadn’t thrown in 12 days throws the ball wherever he wants.” Ryu, who has been sidelined since April 28 because of shoulder inflammation, figures to pitch in place of Paul Maholm. Maholm’s next turn in the rotation falls on Wednesday, when the Dodgers face the New York Mets at Citi Field.

UP NEXT: Clayton Kershaw (2-0, 1.74 earned-run average) will face the Diamondbacks and Chase Anderson (1-0, 1.69) at Chase Field at 5 p.m. Saturday. On the air: TV: SportsNet LA. Radio: 570, 1020, 1540.