Marte a late scratch from D-backs' lineup due to back stiffness
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ST. LOUIS -- Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte was scratched just before first pitch against the Cardinals on Thursday afternoon with back stiffness, the club announced.
The resulting shuffle brought Tyler Locklear into the lineup at first base, moving Tim Tawa to third and Ildemaro Vargas to second.
Marte has hit 18 homers to go with a .773 OPS for the D-backs in his 10th season in the desert, starting 96 of the team’s first 102 games this season. Thursday’s one-game stop at Busch Stadium resulted from a rainout on June 25. Arizona starts a three-game set against Washington on Friday at Nationals Park.
Marte has started all six of the D-backs’ games since the All-Star break, though he did depart in the sixth inning of their 15-5 victory over the Athletics on Wednesday afternoon. He was last out of the lineup on June 3, at home against the Dodgers.