The Diamondbacks got good news on one front during spring training when OF Eric Byrnes hit well and showed no signs of the hamstring injuries that bothered him all last season and caused him to miss the second half. He will still begin the season as the fourth outfielder, but with health will see a lot of time. RHP Max Scherzer entered spring training with a cranky right shoulder, however, and he opened the season on the disabled list, although he is still expected to make his first scheduled start April 14.
PLAYER NEWS: --RHP Brandon Webb said Tuesday he had no traces of the right shoulder stiffness he felt in the fourth inning of his opening-day start against Colorado the day before. "I'm fine," Webb said. Webb, who went 22-7 last season, gave up six runs on six hits, including two home runs, and two walks in four innings. It was his shortest start against the Rockies since Sept. 23, 2003. He was 3-0 against the Rockies last season and is 11-7 against them in his career.
--2B Felipe Lopez on Monday became the fourth Diamondback to homer from both sides of the plate, joining INF Alex Cintron (July 8, 2004), 1B Tony Clark (Sept. 17, 2005) and 2B Orlando Hudson (July 31, 2006). Clark did it Monday as well. Lopez was also the fourth player to homer in his first plate appearance for the D-backs, after 1B/OF Alex Cabrera (July 26, 2000), C Bobby Estalella (April 8, 2004) and OF Jose Cruz Jr. (April 4, 2005).
--The D-backs scored in each of the first five innings in their season opener Monday, becoming only the third team to do that in the last 75 years. Both Toronto and the Angels did it in 1977. Toronto did it in its first major league game.
--RHP Chad Qualls was unavailable for Tuesday's game because he was with his wife, Tara, who delivered the couple's first child earlier in the day. Qualls saved the D-backs' 9-8 victory Monday.
MEDICAL WATCH:
RHP Max Scherzer (shoulder stiffness) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He is expected to make his first regular-season start April 14.
RHP Tom Gordon (right elbow surgery in October 2008) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. Gordon, who did not throw off a mound until a month into spring training, is not expected back in the major leagues until early May.
ROTATION:
1. RHP Brandon Webb
2. RHP Dan Haren
3. LHP Doug Davis
4. RHP Jon Garland
BULLPEN:
RHP Chad Qualls (closer)
RHP Tony Pena
RHP Jon Rauch
LHP Scott Schoeneweis
RHP Juan Gutierrez
RHP Yusmeiro Petit
RHP Billy Buckner
LHP Doug Slaten
LINEUP:
1. 2B Felipe Lopez
2. CF Chris Young
3. SS Stephen Drew
4. LF Conor Jackson
5. RF Justin Upton
6. 1B Chad Tracy
7. 3B Mark Reynolds
8. C Chris Snyder
RESERVES:
C Miguel Montero
1B Tony Clark
INF Augie Ojeda
OF Eric Byrnes
INF/OF Ryan Roberts
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