Injuries Can’t Stop D’backs From Sweeping the Rangers

It seemed the deck was going to be stacked against the Arizona Diamondbacks even before their doubleheader with the Texas Rangers was to begin.  We found out over the weekend that Ian Kennedy would miss his scheduled start in the opening game because of a dishwashing accident.  Then Martin Prado fouled a ball off his leg which limited him to one pinch-hit at-bat in the second game.  In game two, Gerardo Parra left the game after the bottom of the fifth inning with a calf cramp. 

It would have been better if

used a dishwasher. Image: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

None of it mattered on the scoreboard.

The D’backs swept the Rangers on Memorial Day to expand their lead to a game and a half over the San Francisco Giants.  Prado’s injury came at an unfortunate time as he was red-hot, just coming off tying a club record with seven consecutive hits.  Parra was also sizzling at the dish going 3 for 6 on the day before departing.  While this year hasn’t been kind to Kennedy, some home cooking could have helped him get on the right track.  His injury opened the door for super-prospect Tyler Skaggs to make his 2013 debut and he did it in style with six innings of scoreless baseball with nine strikeouts.  Skaggs was sent back down to Triple A Reno after the game,  no doubt in a better frame of mind than when he was sent down toward the end of Spring Training.

It doesn’t seem as though the injuries to the three players are anything serious at the moment that would require any significant time to be missed.  Today’s odd day off will give them extra time to rest.   There is no timetable for the return of second baseman Aaron Hill and closer J.J. Putz so any DL time for these guys would be hurtful for the team.  However, this doubleheader sweep made me feel for the first time this season that this could be a special year for the D’backs.

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