PHOENIX -- Every Mother's Day, when he gets to wear pink during the game as part of Major League Baseball's drive to bring awareness to breast cancer, it brings a special reminder for D-backs reliever Archie Bradley.
"Obviously my mom having breast cancer and being cancer-free now for 14 years, it's pretty special every year for me," Bradley said. "Last year was kind of the cherry on top when my mom got to throw out the first pitch to me, which was pretty cool. But every year it's just a reminder of how strong of a woman my mom is and how special it is to get to celebrate them through this day."
The D-backs gave the first 10,000 moms through the gates a Mother's Day Tote Bag, and unlike most Sundays when kids are allowed to run the bases following the game, this time the mothers were allowed to as well with the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation donating $1 for every mom and kid that crossed home plate.
The D-backs honored breast cancer survivor and honorary bat girl Mary McGonegle during a pregame ceremony as part of a contest that Major League Baseball held that recognizes baseball fans who have been affected by breast cancer.
McGonegle is a breast cancer survivor of seven years and currently has two family members, her brother and his wife, who are battling cancer of a different kind. McGonegle is a mother of two and was selected as the D-backs' bat girl based on her commitment to the battle and demonstration of substantial local community impact.
Players swung pink bats and special pink D-backs caps, balls and bases were used. The balls and bases will be available for purchase at D-backs Authentics beginning May 14, with the proceeds benefiting the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation.
"I think it's a way for all of us to say thank you to our moms," D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. "It's a special day for them. It's our way to repay them and say thank you. Then you also have wives now, a lot of these players are married, and their wives are mothers as well, and there's this huge amount of sacrifice that they make throughout the course of a baseball season to support their husbands. They're moms and they're wives today, and it's a way for Major League Baseball to stop and recognize and say thank you."
Roster shuffle
The D-backs optioned Troy Scribner, who had been called up to start Saturday's game, back to Triple-A Reno and promoted reliever Jimmie Sherfy from the Aces to take his place.
With a recent run of extra-inning games that have taxed the bullpen, the D-backs wanted to add an extra reliever.
Scribner was the second pitcher get a chance at replacing Robbie Ray in the rotation, with veteran Kris Medlen having the first opportunity. Ray, who sustained a strained right oblique, is not close to returning.
The D-backs have off-days on the next two Thursdays, so they can push back Ray's spot in the rotation. The next time they would have to fill it would be May 22 against the Brewers.
For now, the D-backs are only looking at internal candidates to take Ray's spot, including Triple-A pitchers like Taylor Clarke (Arizona's No. 7 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline), Jake Buchanan, Albert Suarez and the recently signed Clay Buchholz.
"I think the No. 1 thing for us from a starting-pitching standpoint is someone that can come up and throw strikes," D-backs general manager Mike Hazen said. "Being able to go deep into games, the ability to do that is going out there, attacking hitters and throwing strikes."