Ziegler racking up appearances early

PHOENIX -- D-backs reliever Brad Ziegler saw his scoreless-innings streak come to an end at 18 1/3 on Wednesday afternoon, when he allowed four runs in one-third of an inning.

While the streak got some attention, Ziegler was unaware of it.

"One thing I couldn't have told you was anywhere close to how many games or how many innings," Ziegler said. "I had no idea."

What he did know was that the D-backs had been playing better.

"That was what I was more focused on, because it was fun to come to the ballpark when we were winning," Ziegler said. "It was tough the whole month of April, but we got things turned around a little bit and we started having a little more fun at the field, and so that was what I noticed.

Ziegler has been called on often this year, leading the National League in appearances with 24.

"I knew I was throwing a lot," Ziegler said. "I couldn't tell you how many games, but it felt like I was pitching twice a series for a while. It might have caught up to me a little bit, I don't know. I didn't feel that bad out there, but just watching video I don't think my pitches had the same action on them that they had the previous couple of weeks. So having [Thursday] off was good for my body."