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Archie Bradley navigated his way though the San Diego "A" lineup for four innings Saturday without allowing an earned in a 7-5 victory over the Padres at Peoria Sports Complex. Bradley gave up five hits and two unearned runs in his last inning after a Jake Lame throwing error.
Bradley routinely hit 94 mph with his fastball and he struck out three, one on a curveball that bounced in the dirt.
Whether working through a lineup that included Wil Myers, Matt Kemp, Justin Upton and Carlos Quentin was enough to keep Bradley in contention for a spot in the starting rotation is nothing he can control.
"That's out of my mind," Bradley said. "I'm pleased with my outing. I got the work I needed to get done. It if happens, it happens."
Diamondbacks center fielder Ender Inciarte makes a catch while fighting the sun on a ball hit by the Padres' Wil Nieves on Saturday.
As it was, Bradley entered spring training likely destined to start the regular season at Double-A Mobile. At the same time, the D-backs like the way Bradley responded to the competition in camp, attacking hitters and working to improve his curveball.
"For the record, I love Archie Bradley," D-backs general manager Dave Stewart said. "He is going to be a great major league pitcher."
Randall Delgado fell out of the competition for the rotation. He gave up one earned run in two innings after throwing three innings in each of his last two outings.
"Him only going two innings today is a little bit of an indication that it is going to be tough for him to get stretched out like the others guys," Hale said.
Ender Inciarte and Mark Trumbo had three hits apiece and David Peralta had two as all three moved their spring batting average over .400. Inciarte (.472) leads the team. Peralta (.438) and Trumbo (.408) are second and third.
"By and large, I think I've done a decent job this spring," Trumbo said. "Everyone wants to get off to a good start. You don't' want to put yourself in a hole. Hopefully, I'll be able to carry this over (to the season)."
Archie Bradley
Bradley threw first-pitch strikes to nine of the first 11 batters he faced in the first three innings before tiring a bit in the fourth, the first time he has gone that long this spring. He threw 64 pitches, 43 for strikes.
"He did what we asked ... he threw the (curve) in the dirt to get a strikeout," Hale said. "Pitchers who have the ability throw it over for a strike any time they want and bounce it any time they wan, that is a pretty good weapon to have, so that's what he's been working on."
Instant replay would have received a workout had it been in effect Saturday. One of third baseman Jake Lamb's two throwing errors would have been corrected to a 5-3 putout, since first baseman Paul Goldschmidt appeared to have his foot on the base when he went up the line to grab a one-hop throw. ... Lamb's other error came on a high throw to first, although that play also was very close. "They still weren't good throws. He's a very good defensive third basemen, we know that," Hale said. Lamb tripled off the left-center field fence to drive in a run in the third inning. ... Yasmany Tomas was used as a DH in a minor league game Saturday. ... Josh Collmenter will start a minor league on Sunday to stay in turn for his scheduled Opening Day start on April 6. It will be his fourth start this spring, his second on a back field. ... Jeremy Hellickson is scheduled to throw in a minor league game on Monday, while Daniel Hudson faces the Los Angeles Dodgers. Hudson threw a bullpen session Saturday. ... With minor leaguer Matt Pagnozzi still nursing oblique injury, the D-backs acquired catch Michael Blanke from the White Sox to add organizational depth. Blanke, 26, converted to pitching in the independent Pioneer League last season but is back behind the plate.
Brad Ziegler is expected to pitch in his first spring training game on Sunday against Colorado at Salt River Fields.
Probable pitchers: Diamondbacks -- LHP Robbie Ray, RHP Allen Webster, RHP Brad Ziegler, RHP Jake Barrett, LHP Oliver Perez, RHP A.J. Schugel. Rockies -- RHP Kyle Kendrick.
