SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- A split-squad group of Mariners made easy work of D-backs starter Zack Greinke on Monday at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, scoring three runs against the right-hander in the third inning, but it was the D-backs who came away with an 8-3 win.
The Mariners had three big hits in the inning: triples by Luis Sardinas and Seth Smith sandwiched around Kyle Seager's two-run homer to right. Greinke opened the inning by hitting Shawn O'Malley with a pitch.
Greinke OK with hitting No. 8 in Hale's lineup
Making his third start with his new club, Greinke worked 3 2/3 innings, allowing the three runs on six hits, while walking none and striking out two. He also batted eighth, striking out looking with one out and runners on first and second in the second inning. Nick Ahmed, batting ninth, singled in the D-backs' second run.
"I just made some bad pitches. Down the middle," Greinke said. "That was a tough pitch to hit, the one Seager hit for the home run. I wouldn't say it was a good pitch. A high fastball. He looked good doing it. It didn't seem like it was very lucky at all."
Arizona's first run was driven in by a Socrates Brito grounder in the opening inning against Seattle starter Taijuan Walker, who was lifted with one out in the fourth after Evan Marzilli doubled and pinch-hitter Pete O'Brien singled him home.
It was the 11th RBI of the spring for O'Brien, the catcher who is being converted to an outfielder. O'Brien hit two homers and had five RBIs on Sunday. Ahmed tripled home O'Brien, giving the D-backs the lead. The D-backs added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh on Brandon Drury's RBI double and Jake Lamb's RBI single. In the eighth, Phil Gosselin tacked on a two-run homer.
Walker allowed four runs on seven hits, striking out three and walking one.
Up next for Mariners: Former Gonzaga hurler Cody Martin makes his first Cactus League start on Tuesday at 1:10 p.m. PT, live on MLB.TV and Gameday Audio, against the Angels in Tempe. The 26-year-old right-hander was claimed off waivers from the A's over the offseason and has pitched twice in relief this spring, allowing four hits and two runs in five frames. Wade Miley normally would have started this game, but he'll work against Minor League hitters in Peoria to avoid pitching against the rival Angels for a second time this spring.
Up next for D-backs: Tuesday is an off-day for manager Chip Hale's squad. The D-backs return to action on Wednesday at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in a 1:10 PT game against the Reds, with Patrick Corbin expected to start against Jon Moscot. Hale said he's hoping to have injured outfielder Yasmany Tomas back in the lineup. Wednesday's game will be broadcast live on MLB.TV and via a free, exclusive dbacks.com audio webcast.