PHOENIX -- It wasn't one of Zack Greinke's best outings, but the right-hander managed to allow just one run over five innings as the D-backs beat the Phillies, 6-1, on Monday afternoon to take three of four at Chase Field.
The second-place D-backs have now won 12 of their last 14 games as they try to keep pace with the first-place Dodgers in the National League West.
The Phillies made Greinke work hard for his outs in the second and third innings despite the fact that he did not allow any baserunners, and they had him on the ropes in the first and fifth innings, but stranded five. The traffic took its toll, though, as Greinke threw 102 pitches through five.
"I was missing by a little bit and they were more patient than normal, so it was a bad combination for a pitch count," Greinke said. "I wasn't trying to miss by a little bit, but it was just happening and sometimes they'll swing at that pitch, but they weren't today."

The D-backs' offense, meanwhile, took advantage of Nick Pivetta's wildness. The rookie right-hander walked five and allowed seven hits and lasted just 2 2/3 innings. The D-backs got a leadoff homer from Chris Herrmann in the first and added a pair of runs in the second and three more in the third.
• Struggling Ramos optioned to Triple-A 
"I beat myself today," Pivetta said. "I beat myself today and let my team down. I didn't really have much of a release point, couldn't feel the ball coming out of my hand. Out of the stretch it really killed me.
"But that's not an excuse I want to use. It's baseball. I'm better than that. I've done better than that in the past and in my past two starts. So it's not an excuse I'm willing to use this time around. I've got to make an adjustment during a game and do better."
• Eickhoff, Kendrick not quite ready to return 
"I thought the guys were prepared and ready and executed early," D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. "Overall, offensively I thought we were more than adequate early."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Descalso delivers: With Pivetta teetering in the third, the D-backs loaded the bases with nobody out. Descalso, who drove home the game-winning run Sunday afternoon, came through again, this time with a two-run single to right. The D-backs would tack on one more in the inning to go up 6-1. More >

Chance for big inning: The Phillies were on the verge of jumping back into the game against Greinke in the fifth. After Daniel Nava's single to right scored a run and put runners on the corners with two outs, Freddy Galvis drew a walk. That brought to the plate Aaron Altherr, who had seven hits up to that point in the series. However, Greinke got Altherr to ground out to third to end the threat.

"Just lost control a little bit in the last inning," Greinke said. "I should have attacked a little better and then should have been able to go another inning ideally."
QUOTABLE
"In Spring Training, if you told me we were going to have this record, I wouldn't believe it. I believed we had a good team. But we just can't put anything together. We played well for five or six games and then we go to another six or seven-game losing streak. Then we win one and keep going. It's hard. It's hard to see it. It's hard to believe it." -- Phillies shortstop Freddy Galvis, on the team falling to 24-51
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
The Phillies are on pace to lose 110 games and suffer their worst record since 1961.
BRACHO OPTIONED
The D-backs optioned Silvino Bracho to Triple-A Reno following the game. This was Bracho's fifth stint with Arizona this year. The team will make a corresponding roster move Tuesday.
WHAT'S NEXT
Phillies: The Phillies open a two-game series Tuesday night against the Mariners at Safeco Field at 10:10 ET. Right-hander Aaron Nola (4-5, 4.32 ERA) pitches the opener. He allowed four hits and one run in 7 1/3 innings last week against the Cardinals, and is 2-2 with a 3.42 ERA in four starts this month.
D-backs: Arizona will kick off a three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday with first pitch coming at 6:40 p.m. MST. The D-backs will send Taijuan Walker (6-3, 3.43 ERA) to the mound in search of his fourth consecutive win.
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