Diamondbacks’ Jeff Mathis securing key outs with arm

When he arrived home Thursday and reflected on what went down earlier in the evening at Chase Field, Diamondbacks catcher Jeff Mathis focused on the score.

Not only did right-hander Zack Greinke’s no-hit bid fizzle in the eighth when the Pirates’ Gregory Polanco launched a home run just inside the right-field foul pole, but Arizona’s lead was also sabotaged – getting cut in half.

“We gotta finish the job,” Mathis said. “We gotta get this ‘W’ for Zack.”

Mathis credited Greinke for getting out of the eighth without giving up any more runs and closer Fernando Rodney for converting the save in the ninth, but Mathis also made a key play – securing the final out by throwing out Josh Harrison at second as Harrison tried to steal into scoring position.

“I want to time that throw down to second,” Greinke told reporters Thursday. “It was one of the best throws I’ve ever seen.”

Harrison was the second Pirates player tracked down by Mathis in the 2-1 win, a defensive proficiency Mathis hasn’t shied away from displaying in his first season with the team.

“I have a lot of pride in my defense and that side of the ball and being able to cut guys down trying to steal, especially in situations like that,” Mathis said.

After Thursday’s showing, Mathis has caught five players stealing. His caught stealing percentage (42) ranked 10th in the majors.

“Anytime you have some success, I think it gives you confidence,” he said.

Mathis does practice his transfers and footwork but doesn’t spend much time throwing from his knees. It’s clear, though, he’s developed a knack for being accurate.

“I know he’s already prepared for those types of moments,” said manager Torey Lovullo, who was on the Blue Jays staff in 2012 when Mathis threw out 20 baserunners for Toronto – which is tied for his career-high. “He practices those types of plays. He improvises. He’s got the foundation to do it perfectly every single time, but he can also make plays like that because he’s very athletic.”

MORE: D-Backs have faith, conviction in Rodney as closer

Godley gets another look

Right-hander Zack Godley will start Monday against the Mets, his third start of the season since right-hander Shelby Miller was sidelined with elbow problems.

Miller underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this week.

“There was a few moving parts,” Lovullo said. “We wanted to look through some different options, and we felt like he was the right guy. He deserved it. He threw the ball extremely well his last start, and we’ll look forward to seeing what he can do Monday.”

In his most recent outing, Godley was solid, giving up just one run off four hits through seven innings in a win over the Tigers Wednesday. Overall, he’s 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA but the team hasn’t tabbed Godley for any future starts beyond Monday.

“I think we’ll see how it goes on Monday,” Lovullo said. “He’s throwing the ball extremely well. We have no reason to believe that anything will go backward.”

Twice as nice

Lovullo rewatched several innings of Greinke’s eight-inning, one-hit performance Thursday.

The takeaway?

“He is locked in is what I took out of that,” Lovullo said. “He’s in a really good spot. It looks like his misses are barely missing their spots. There’s a ton of strike-to-ball pitches that are thrown, and he’s in a really good place right now and he’s carrying that rotation.”

RELATED: Greinke flirts with no-hitter as D-Backs beat Pirates

Right-hander Taijuan Walker paid close attention to what Greinke was doing since he faces the Pirates Saturday. Not only can a showing like Greinke’s offer up a blueprint for future starters against a certain opponent, but it also seems to be motivation.

“Definitely you want to match the guy in front of you and just build off each other,” Walker said. “I think that’s how a lot of starting rotations are really successful is they build off each other.”

Short hops

The Diamondbacks reinstated right-hander Jake Barrett from the 10-day disabled list (right shoulder inflammation) Thursday night and optioned him to Triple-A Reno.

Barrett, who was one of the team’s steadiest bullpen arms last season, began the 2017 campaign on the disabled list after developing shoulder problems during spring training.

“He’s going to just continue on his progression,” Lovullo said. “He’s going to get regular work, and he’s going to go out and perform. As I say to everybody who goes down, it’s your turn to go and continue performing, work through the frustration of that, and they make the decisions for us when it’s the right time. Right now, our bullpen has been rock solid. This is a really tough situation for anybody to walk into and crack into. So it’s where people in Triple-A are going to have to step up and wait for their opportunity.

Right-hander Rubby De La Rosa, who was bothered by elbow issues for much of last season, threw one inning Thursday in his first appearance this season with Reno. De La Rosa threw 12 pitches and gave up one run (a home run).

“He threw the ball very well,” said Lovullo, calling De La Rosa’s fastball “extremely aggressive.”

Nick Piecoro contributed to this report.

Saturday’s game

Pirates at Diamondbacks

When: 5:10 p.m.

Where: Chase Field (Roof hotline: 602-462-6262).

Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Taijuan Walker (3-2, 3.83) vs. Pirates RHP Trevor Williams (1-2, 7.98).

TV/Radio: FSAZ/KMVP-FM (98.7), KHOV-FM (105.1).

Walker has allowed three earned runs or fewer in five of his first seven starts this season. He took the loss in his last start, a 5-2 loss at Colorado, despite allowing just one earned run over 5 2/3 innings. Walker has pitched past the sixth inning only once thus far, on April 27 against the Padres when he went eight innings in a 6-2 win. … Williams will be making his eighth appearance, but just his second start of the season for the Pirates. In his first start on Monday at the Dodgers, he allowed six earned runs in the first inning of a 12-1 loss. Acquired from the Marlins in 2015, Williams pitched a season-high four innings against the Cubs on April 24.

Coming up

Sunday: At Chase Field, 1:10 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (2-3, 4.14) vs. Pirates RHP Ivan Nova (3-3, 2.23).

Monday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zack Godley (1-0, 2.25) v. Mets RHP Zack Wheeler (2-2, 4.18).

Tuesday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke (4-2, 2.79) vs. Mets LHP Tommy Milone (1-0, 5.88).