PHOENIX -- A left groin cramp forced D-backs second baseman Ketel Marte to leave Friday night’s game against the Giants in the third inning.

While D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said he planned on giving Marte a day off Saturday, he could be back in the lineup as soon as Sunday.

“He’s been playing a lot of baseball,” Lovullo said. “He’s one of the best players in the National League and I’ve found it hard to find him time off, especially with what we’re grinding through right now.”

Marte, who was named a finalist for the All-Star Game Starters Election earlier in the day, tripled in the first inning and hit a ground-ball single to center to score Jarrod Dyson in the third.

As he ran up the first-base line, Marte suddenly pulled up and slowed down, clearly favoring his leg.

“I had never felt pain in that part of my body before, and it was a little scary when I felt my leg kind of tweak the wrong way,” Marte said. “It was scary at first and now I’m good.”

Despite the early exit, Marte managed to collect a pair of hits as he continued to bolster his All-Star candidacy.

Since he’s swinging such a hot bat, Marte was asked if it was frustrating to have to miss even just one game right now.

“Of course, yeah,” he said. “I mean, if I could I would play 18 innings in a single day the way I’m playing right now.”