After extra effort, D-backs allowed to arrive late

PHOENIX -- After a night game that went extra innings on Thursday in San Francisco, the D-backs arrived back home in the wee hours of the morning Friday following their win against the Giants.

"Everybody got to sleep around 4 a.m.," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said.

With that in mind, Gibson ordered the clubhouse closed in the afternoon with players not having to be dressed until 5 p.m. MST for the 6:40 p.m. game against the Dodgers.

"These guys are really good at being prepared to play and getting themselves loosened up, so we were comfortable with that," Gibson said. "Just thought that was more beneficial than coming in and getting on the field and forcing people to get in here."

It was a gesture that went over big with his players, who came in on their own and got their usual batting-practice swings in the indoor cage rather than on the field.

"Everybody is still going to take as many [swings] as they probably would," shortstop Cliff Pennington said. "But they just get to have a little mental break on the way. It's very nice."