Colorado kept Yasmany Tomas busy at third base Thursday, and the Diamondbacks were encouraged by the results in their 4-3 victory.
Tomas seemed comfortable in playing five innings. He made several nice plays, including back-handing a ball down the line and charging in for bare-handed pickup on a bunt, throwing out both runners at first base. He was unable to handle one ball hit to him, indecisive on how whether to play it in front of him or with a backhand; it was ruled an infield single.
"We're very encouraged," D-backs manager Chip Hale said. "He's much lighter on his feet than you might think he is."
Tomas did not impress himself on the first, tough attempt, Wilin Rosario's hard grounder over the bag at third base leading off the second inning.
"It's the kind of play you can see every single day," Tomas said through D-backs coach Ariel Prieto.
Tomas threw out Christian Adames on a bunt down the line with a runner on first in the fourth, first baseman Danny Dorn fielding the throw on a hop.
"I thought he was going to bunt, so I got a little closer," he said. "I'm happy I was ready for that."
As far as playing third base ...
"That's what the team needed," he said.
Trevor Cahill
Thursday: Cahill, working out of a higher arm slot this spring, gave up two singles and a walk in two innings in his first spring appearance. He threw first-pitch strikes to all three batters he faced in the first and got out of the inning with a double play ball on a changeup.
Impressions: The ball had a lot of downward action, which is what the D-backs want to see, Hale said. Cahill said he is still getting used to the new delivery, and the results were encouraging.
Vidal Nuno
Thursday: Nuno gave up four hits and two runs in two innings in his first spring appearance. The second run came on the ball Tomas could not handle cleanly.
Impressions: Nuno was the first starting rotation candidate to give up runs this spring, but Hale was not concerned. "We're just worried about his getting his work," Hale said. "We know what he is as a major league pitcher. He limited the damage.
Archie Bradley
Thursday: Bradley sat at 93-94 mph and touched 95 mph, pitching the fifth and sixth innings. He gave up one hit and struck out three, all with curveballs.
Impressions: Bradley had a good tempo and was aggressive, Hale saying he looked confident. "The minor league guys who were in the dugout who have seen him, they said, 'That's the guy we signed,'" Hale said. "He had a tough year last year. He knows he was trying to be too perfect. We told him to go out there and let that ball go and be Archie Bradley."
Chris Owings, recuperating from October shoulder surgery, is to hit off live pitching Friday for the first time this spring. "He's ready to get into this phase of it," Hale said. "We'll see how it is off the pitchers. We really have to be careful of him having the swing we want him to have and he wants to have before he is out in game competition." The D-backs have said they expect Owings to be ready to play about 10 games into spring training, although that is a soft target. ... Cuban right-hander Yoan Lopez, who signed on Jan. 16, threw a 25-pitch simulated game on Wednesday, the D-backs wanting to let him face hitters one more time before his scheduled spring training debut Saturday against Seattle in Peoria. "Just trying to get him one more time before he was in live competition with hitters to command his fastball a little better," Hale said. "Physically he's fine. Just coming over, he's kind of behind some of those guys in that aspect of it." ... As games get underway, the D-backs see Cody Ross as a possible platoon player in left field, where his right-handed bat would complement left-handed hitters Ender Inciarte and David Peralta, and as a late-inning threat. "If there is a platoon in the making it probably is over in left field to start with," Hale said. "We're looking for him, especially, off the bench late. He gives us some punch." Ross is another year removed from a fractured left hip. "If he's back to who he was, there are more at-bats for him," Hale said. "We have to see where it is." ... The D-backs announced they will wear purple jerseys at Thursday home games this season. "It's part of our history," Hale said. "We try to embrace the past. It was a pretty good time." ... Handyman Jordan Pacheco played third base after appearing at second on Wednesday. He is listed as a catcher on the roster.
Left-hander Matt Reynolds and right-hander Blake Beavan are to throw to hitters in a side session today, the next step before getting into a game. Reynolds is on the way back from Tommy John surgery in September, 2013, while nonroster invitee Beavan was slowed by a hamstring injury suffered during pitcher's fielding practice. ... RHP Brad Ziegler is to throw another bullpen session Friday and is expected to begin throwing to hitters shortly, Hale said.
Diamondbacks vs. Oakland
1:10 p.m. Friday, Salt River Fields
Probable pitchers: Diamondbacks -- LHP Robbie Ray, RHP Randall Delgado, RHP Allen Webster, LHP Will Locante, RHP Jake Barrett, RHP Enrique Burgos. A's -- RHP Kendall Graveman, RHP Matt Buschmann, RHP R.J. Alvarez, RHP Brock Huntzinger, RHP Jim Fuller
