CINCINNATI -- Before the series opener against the Reds on Friday at Great American Ball Park, the Diamondbacks officially reinstated outfielder Jordan Lawlar from the 60-day injured list and subsequently designated veteran backup catcher Aramis Garcia for assignment to clear the necessary 26-man and 40-man roster spots.
Turns out, the Diamondbacks picked the perfect time to activate one of their top young players, as he made plays in the field and at the plate to help Arizona rally for a much-needed win that snapped a three-game skid.
Lawlar was promptly inserted in the starting lineup in center field and batted seventh against Cincinnati starter Nick Lodolo. He made a huge impact in the game – and with the center-field wall – when he robbed Matt McLain of extra bases with a sensational grab for the second out in the bottom of the fourth. Lawlar also singled twice, including a two-run insurance single in the three-run Arizona ninth as the Diamondbacks rallied late for a 5-2 win.
The Reds took a 2-1 lead in the third with an unearned run when former Diamondback Eugenio Suárez singled to center. Lawlar’s throw from center short-hopped Nolan Arenado at third and went into the Arizona dugout, allowing Spencer Steer to score.
But Lawlar atoned for the error in the fourth when he crashed face-first into the center-field wall and caught a long McLain liner.
“He's athletic, it's a transition for him too. He's a natural shortstop, and it's his first year [playing the outfield], since Spring Training [when] we put him out there, and he looks very natural,” Arizona skipper Torey Lovullo said. “That was an unbelievable play, and that wall doesn't give, you know it's there and it's waiting for you, and he made a great play.”
Despite playing his first game off the 60-day injured list, Lawlar still managed to play with reckless abandonment.
“I saw a low flight, opened my hips, and kind of put my head down, kind of knew where the ball was at, knew where the wall was at,” Lawlar said. “I took a quick peek, and then once I got to the track, I knew I was probably just gonna run to the wall, and I was like, ‘I'm just gonna try to catch this, and whatever happens, happens,’ and caught a ball right in the pocket.”
What about getting hurt again?
“I don't even think about it. I'm here to play, win and be aggressive. I play my best when I attack, and I'm on the offense, so that's how I want to play,” Lawlar said. “Trust my rehab, trust the training staff, trust all the coaches that have put time into me to get me back to this point.”
It wasn’t the only defensive gem against McLain and the Reds. In the eighth, with the potential go-ahead run at second base in pinch-runner Edwin Arroyo, Arenado – a Reds-killer at Great American Ball Park dating to his days with the Cardinals – fielded a sharp McLain grounder that took him deep into foul territory. The veteran third baseman collected himself, threw across his body and nabbed McLain for the third out by a half-step to end the inning.
“Arenado’s play to finish the eighth was tremendous,” raved Lovullo.
Arizona tied the game in the sixth against Lodolo after Lawlar was hit by a pitch, the third batter Lodolo plunked on the night. Lawlar then stole second and scored on a single up the middle from LuJames Groover.
Ironically, in a game that featured Arizona defensive brilliance, the Diamondbacks won because of a dropped ball in left in the ninth. Gabriel Moreno scored the go-ahead run when Geraldo Perdomo’s sinking liner was dropped by Blake Dunn with two outs in the ninth.
“He worked his butt off to get back here,” Lovullo said before the game. “So, starting him in center field, I know [there’s curiosity] about what the playing time is going to look like. It's going to be very fluid. There's going to be three guys, four guys for two positions, going to be a little bit of a rotation. They're all going to play.”
“It feels great,” Lawlar said before taking the field on Friday. “I’m excited to be back around this group of guys, and just kind of feel the energy and jump right back in.”