Callaspo a success in debut at first base

PHOENIX -- Maybe this first base thing isn't so hard after all.

Alberto Callaspo was initially leery of learning a new position, but moments after he exited his debut at first base Friday, the veteran infielder grinned and said, "That was easy today. Let's see what happens."

"I thought he was great over there," said manager Bob Melvin. "His actions are all good. I hope he had some fun out there. It looked like it."

Callaspo was kept plenty busy. Starter Scott Kazmir induced four straight groundball outs to start the game and also forced a double-play ball in the third. By day's end, Callaspo was part of five plays in as many innings.

The 30-year-old, a potential platoon partner with Brandon Moss at the position, was using Daric Barton's first baseman's glove but noted his own was on its way.

"It was good," he said. "It was kind of weird the first time."

"Yeah, it was a little odd seeing him over there," said third baseman Josh Donaldson. "But once you throw the first one over to him, it's fun.

"I play catch with him all the time, so it shouldn't be that tough for me, I guess. And for him, he's an infielder, and first base isn't that difficult. It's the easiest position on the field, so I'd expect him to have a pretty easy transition, especially since he's already played a corner before."