D-Backs notes: Byrnes still battling hamstring soreness

SAN DIEGO - Eric Byrnes was given another day off Friday to rest his sore right hamstring, admitting it seemed to feel better but not wanting to turn the time off into a routine.

Unit dominates in D-Backs' win

"If it was later in the year, there is no chance I would be out of the lineup," Byrnes said. "At least, I'd be in the manager's office fighting to get in there. I haven't exactly fought him on it."

He is expected to return to the starting lineup today.

Byrnes, who is hitting .287 with nine doubles, three home runs, 14 RBIs and three stolen bases, said he also has been dealing with left hamstring soreness that began in spring training when he pushed a little too hard too early.

"What you do, you overcompensate," he said. "It would be nice at some point, whether it is at the end of the season or in the offseason, or what, to get my legs feeling 100 percent again.

"Right now, I'm OK with the fact I will probably play in some discomfort for a while."

Manager Bob Melvin said he felt Byrnes' injury was a little more noticeable in his last start Wednesday.

Jeff Salazar started in left field Thursday and homered in the second inning, and Chris Burke started in left Friday and made a running catch on Khalil Green's long drive to left center in the second.

"He's a durable guy. We'll be a little bit cautious right now," general manager Josh Byrnes said.

Eric Byrnes has worked with trainer Ken Crenshaw virtually every day since the hamstring acted up, and reported to Petco Park at 1 p.m. Friday for three hours of treatment.

As part of his recovery, Byrnes uses an electric stimulation device called an Accelerated Recovery Performance trainer to treat the hamstring, the same machine that Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald used on his sore hamstring last season.

Valley NFL products Terrell Suggs and Adam Archuleta also have used the device, which according to inventor and exercise physiologist Denis Thompson relaxes and elongates muscles, making them more easily treatable.

BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIP

Randy Johnson threw to Miguel Montero on Friday, the first time the two have worked together in Montero's short time with the D-Backs, and it appears that Melvin likes the combination.

"I think it could be a good match," Melvin said. "Randy knows what he wants to do, and (Montero) can learn from him a little bit. You may see Montero with Randy quite a bit."

It may become a pupil/mentor situation similar to the one Livan Hernandez had with Montero last season, when the two worked together in 31 of Hernandez's 32 starts and Montero "learned something from Livo about hitters."

Chris Snyder missed Friday with the upper respiratory infection that has swept through the clubhouse but is expected to start today, Melvin said.

SHORT HOPS

Justin Upton is to announce the D-Backs' starting lineup on Fox's national telecast of today's game. ... Micah Owings today will attempt to join Brandon Webb as the only major league pitchers with five victories.