D-Backs notebook: Jackson continues to clean up

CINCINNATI - Conor Jackson has been ill since Saturday and said he had four or five hours of fitful, sweaty sleep the last two nights entering the Diamondbacks’ season opener Monday, not that it seemed that way.

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Jackson drove in the D-Backs’ first run with a two-out single off Aaron Harang in the first inning of a 4-2 victory over Cincinnati, one of five D-Backs hits.

“I’m ready to go back to bed,” said Jackson, whose voice was raspy and barely audible after the game.

Jackson admitted he briefly got light-headed while running out a ground out in the sixth inning, “but I’m all right, though.”

Jackson hit fourth in the lineup Monday, where he had his greatest success last season, and it appears manager Bob Melvin will keep him there for the short term.

“Right now Conor is driving runs in, so I am comfortable hitting him ‘4,’ ” Melvin said.

“Originally I thought when spring training started it might be more him third and (Eric) Byrnes fourth, but Conor had a great spring with runners on base.”

Jackson hit .348 with 11 extra-base hits, including seven doubles and three home runs, and drove in 18 runs this spring.

He hit .320 with eight of his 15 homers in only 169 at-bats hitting fourth last season.

“I think he is a little stronger,” Melvin said.

“Some of the home runs he has hit this spring have probably traveled a little further than we have seen in the past. I don’t think he gets too caught up in where he is hitting. He just wants to see some runners on base.”

SALAZAR IN A PINCH

All three of Jeff Salazar’s career home runs have been as a pinch-hitter after he put the final run on the D-Backs’ 4-2 victory.

“I don’t know if I want to continue that trend or not,” Salazar said.

“They are obviously exciting. It is obviously a situation where a team needs you to put together a quality at-bat.

Even opening day in ‘A’ ball is exciting, and this is the big leagues.

“The biggest thing is to try to slow everything down and not try to do too much.”

YOUNG ’BACKS

With youngsters Alex Romero (24) and Yusmeiro Petit (23) making the 25-man roster, the D-Backs have the youngest opening day roster in the major leagues at an average of 27 years, 184 days.

Oakland is second, at 28 years, 14 days, and would have been younger had ex-D-Back Carlos Gonzalez (22) made the team. He was optioned to the minor leagues on Saturday.

Minnesota (28 years, 101 days), Florida (28, 175) and Atlanta (28, 192) complete the top five.

SHORT HOPS

Doug Davis threw his normal bullpen session despite soggy weather Monday in preparation for his Wednesday start, the first of two he is scheduled to make before his April 10 surgery for thyroid cancer. The D-Backs have not had a team meeting to discuss Davis’ situation, but he has spoken to the players privately.

“I think everybody understands what is going on,” Melvin said.

During pregame introductions, Cincinnati players wore jerseys with their own number on the front and No. 41 on the back, a tribute for former Reds pitcher and broadcaster Joe Nuxhall, who passed away in the offseason.