MILWAUKEE -- Friday night was the first time that fans got to see the fiery side of Torey Lovullo, something the D-backs manager prefers to show to his team behind closed doors.
When the D-backs committed two physical errors and a mental blunder on the same play in the third inning of their loss to the Brewers on Friday night, Lovullo couldn't hold it in any longer and gathered his team for an impassioned talk in full view of the television cameras.
Afterward, Arizona veterans Nick Ahmed and Christian Walker both voiced their support for their manager and said he was justified for dressing down the team.
"I have that intensity in me," Lovullo said. "I try to keep that guy as far away from the public as possible. I think the team has seen that side of me in the right place for me, which is between us, but I usually bark at them in the dugout quickly. I usually bark with some intensity to get their attention, but never have I ever done something like that [Friday], where I got the whole group together [in the dugout]."
The message was not done to demean or embarrass his players, but rather to make a point.
"I just need to let them know that we weren't a high school baseball team," Lovullo said. "And I was watching some high school baseball plays, and I had enough. And they supported it, because they knew I was coming from a good place. I did it to get their attention. Let them know that I was very unhappy, but not to get mad at them or scare them."
Cabrera back
Veteran infielder Asdrúbal Cabrera returned to the active roster Friday night and drove in the D-backs' lone run with a pinch-hit sacrifice fly to right field in the eighth inning.
Cabrera, who sustained a right hamstring strain on May 13, made his way back quicker than expected. He is still only running at about 80 percent, but he was anxious to get back to action.
"I feel really good," Cabrera said. "I have to be smart and try to stay healthy for the rest of the season."
Senior Reporter Steve Gilbert has covered the D-backs for MLB.com since 2001.