Chris Young returned to the Diamondbacks in style Friday.
Activated from the disabled list earlier in the day, Young contributed a two-run double in the D-backs' 6-4 victory at Kansas City in their first interleague game of the season. Young, who suffered a slight tear in a right shoulder ligament when he ran into the fence while making a catch April 17, served as the designated hitter.
The D-backs were 7-3 at the time Young got hurt, and he was all over the NL leader boards. Young was second in the NL in home runs (five) and OPS (1.397), third in batting average (.410) and tied for third in RBIs (13) when he went on the DL.
The D-backs were 10-18 in his absence, and it is safe to say his return provided a psychological lift.
"Absolutely. He has been a big part of this club for seven years. Just his mere presence in the clubhouse is good for the guys. We were playing pretty darn good until he went down," general manager Kevin Towers said.
"It's not to say when 'C.Y.' comes back we are going to try to ride his back. I think will be good for the guys. I think the guys enjoy him being around."
Young was 0 for 2 with an RBI in his one rehab game at Class AAA Reno on Thursday after going 4 for 13 with a home run, three doubles and seven RBIs at Class A Visalia. Young played the outfield in two rehab games and also served as a DH.
"I wouldn't say he is back 100 percent with the arm. I've watched him a few times. There is still enough carry on it. If there is any discomfort on the shoulder, it's usually throwing more so than swinging," Towers said.
NOTES, QUOTES
-- SS Willie Bloomquist's three-hit game Friday gave him eight hits, all singles, in his last three starts. He scored two runs Friday, and his RBI single drove in the first run in a four-run eighth inning that gave the D-backs the lead in Colorado on Thursday. He has raised his batting average 42 points to .254 in that time.
-- RHP J.J. Putz recorded his second save in as many days, giving up only a two-out walk in the bottom of the ninth inning before striking out Alex Gordon to end the game Friday. Putz got out of a no-out, bases-loaded situation in the ninth inning of a 9-7 victory over the Rockies on Thursday when he struck out pitcher Alex White as a pinch hitter and got Wilin Rosario to ground into a double play.
-- RHP Brad Ziegler won his second game in as many days to improve to 3-1, although it came after he failed to hold a 4-3 lead in the last of the seventh before the D-backs rallied in the eighth. LHP Joe Saunders, 4-0 against Kansas City in six career appearances, was in line for the victory.
-- C Miguel Montero had three RBIs and doubled twice, the second of which drove in two runs to break a 4-4 tie in the top of the eighth inning.
BY THE NUMBERS: 8-4 -- The D-backs' record in games CF Chris Young has played this season.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Just his mere presence in the clubhouse is good for the guys. We were playing pretty darn good until he went down." -- D-backs general manager Kevin Towers on the return of CF Chris Young.
