D-Backs notebook: 1st start at 1st doesn’t faze Burke

CINCINNATI - Chris Burke played first base like it was second nature in his first major league game there Wednesday.

D-Backs drop 2nd straight in Cincinnati

Unit allows 5 runs in 4 innings in Tucson

Burke handled two chances, including a hard one-hopper by Corey Patterson in the eighth inning, after replacing Conor Jackson (shortness of breath) as a pinch hitter in the top of the fifth.

“It kind of snuck up on me there. I didn’t expect to be in the game. Fortunately I had that preparation in spring,” said Burke, who played parts of a half-dozen games at first in spring training.

Burke made his first major league start at first base Thursday and made another polished play, charging hard on a Johnny Cueto sacrifice bunt attempt and throwing to second in time for the force play.

While Burke has played the three other infield positions as well as all three outfield positions in his five major league seasons, he called first base “totally different.”

“You feel like you are going to be involved in every play. There is a lot more thinking involved for me, because I haven’t played there at all,” he said.

“I have to really think about where I am and what I am doing and what my responsibilities are.”

Burke became the backup first baseman when the D-Backs kept outfielder Alex Romero over Trot Nixon, who also played first for the first time in his major league career this spring and is to play some first base at Triple-A Tucson.

JOHNSON BACK APRIL 14

Doug Davis did his best work in 2007 after Randy Johnson was lost for the year in July. This time around, the D-Backs have Johnson scheduled into the rotation in Davis’ spot.

Johnson will join the D-Backs’ rotation April 14 against San Francisco, manager Bob Melvin said Thursday morning, before Johnson was to make his start for the Sidewinders.

Johnson, who pitched 11 1/3 innings in spring training, will make one more minor league start for the Sidewinders on Tuesday, Melvin said, “to get him the same type of spring that everybody else had, which would mean innings in the 20s.”

SHORT HOPS

Alex Romero made his major league debut Wednesday, laying down a successful sacrifice bunt on the first pitch he saw as a pinch hitter in the ninth. His sacrifice fly Thursday gave him two major league plate appearances and no at-bats. ...

Robby Hammock started at catcher Thursday, with Chris Snyder likely to start all three games in Colorado because the Rockies are scheduled to start three left-handers. Snyder hit .316 against lefties last season and is a career .362 hitter at Coors Field. ...

Miguel Montero will play in an extended spring training game Monday, Melvin said, his first game action since suffering a broken finger in the Venezuelan winter league. ...

Fox Sports Net Arizona will telecast 86 games in high-definition TV on Cox channel 734, the D-Backs announced Thursday. All 72 FSN home games will be shown in high definition, as will 14 road games, beginning today in Colorado. ...

A day after his first career three-walk game, Chris Young struck out four times, three against Johnny Cueto and once against Mike Lincoln.