Ahmed gets bit with aggression on basepaths

PHOENIX -- Over the past two days, D-backs shortstop Nick Ahmed has twice been thrown out on a pick-off and manager Chip Hale would like him to show just a little more caution.

Ahmed was caught by Brett Anderson starting for second base early in the first inning Wednesday night and then in Thursday night's first inning the same thing happened at second base with Chris Rusin on the mound.

"He's on the money with what he's seen, it's just the pitchers or the other club is doing some things that they haven't done before to cross him up, or cross us up," Hale said. "He's pretty strong mentally and those things don't get him down."

Hale still feels good about Ahmed as a baserunner, pointing out that the only reason he was on second base Thursday was because he got a good read on a ball in the dirt on the previous pitch.

Some D-backs players have the green light to run when they want and Hale says he won't take that away from Ahmed because he trusts what Ahmed sees when he's out there.

"Just maybe relax a little bit and let the game come to him a little more than trying to be so aggressive," Hale said. "We did talk to him about certain things and just maybe calming down a little bit. We just have to make a little more sure in certain situations."

Ahmed has four stolen bases this year and has been thrown out five times.