D-Backs notebook: Pitchers can hit, too

The Diamondbacks are working on an uncommon trifecta. Their hitters can hit, their pitchers can pitch … and their pitchers can hit, too.

Rookie pitcher is bright spot in team’s 6-4 loss

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Not only do the D-Backs lead the major leagues in runs and ERA, their pitchers lead in virtually every offensive category — hits, doubles, RBIs, batting average, OPS (on-base average plus slugging percentage).

D-Backs pitchers are hitting .273 with 15 hits, nine doubles and nine RBIs.

Micah Owings is the leader, hitting .389 with a double and an RBI, and teammates understand that his 2007 Silver Slugger award is safe.

“He’s still the guy who is putting on a show in batting practice,” Dan Haren said.

At the same time, Haren had an RBI double Monday for his second RBI of the season, Webb has four RBIs, Doug Davis has two hits in three at-bats and Edgar Gonzalez has an RBI double. Webb still has one more RBI than regulars Josh Bard of the Padres and Willy Taveras of the Rockies.

“We’ve put a lot of good at-bats together. You can help yourself a lot during the game, and we’ve done a good job with that,” Haren said.

The D-Backs are 9-2 when their pitchers get a hit.

“They make it look easy, don’t they?” Mark Reynolds said.

“You feel like you can have some production later in the order, and you have a chance to score every inning,” manager Bob Melvin said.

OWINGS TO START FRIDAY

Owings threw a normal 55-pitch bullpen session early Tuesday and will make his scheduled start Friday, saying he felt just a little restriction where his right ankle was taped.

“There were no problems out there,” Melvin said. “He has three more days, and by then he’ll be fairly close to 100 percent.”

Owings, 4-0 with a 3.48 ERA and four quality starts, suffered a sprained right ankle when he landed awkwardly on the second-base bag following his RBI double — his third hit of the game — in San Diego on Saturday.

He left the game at that point and has been receiving virtually around-the-clock treatment.

“All the credit goes to the training staff,” Owings said.

With Owings starting Friday, the D-Backs’ other starters will stay in turn on five days’ rest.

Melvin said he will continue to use Owings as a pinch-hitter, even though he has concerns.

“I think about him running down the line and maybe not being loose and pulling a hamstring. I think about potentially getting hit by a pitch,” Melvin said.

SHORT HOPS

Eric Byrnes (hamstring) did not start Tuesday, his third start off in six games, but he will play today, Melvin said.

“He’s better, but (Wednesday) is a day game, and I don’t want to give him two days in a row off because he likes to keep some continuity to his swing,” Melvin said, “so we’ll give him the night game off. We’ll try to be cautious.”

Chad Tracy had two hits including a home run in six at-bats as a DH in an extended spring training game Monday and was to play again Tuesday.

“We’ll get him several games there and move him along when we think he’s ready to go out and play” at least half a game, Melvin said.

Doug Davis began his radiation iodine treatment Tuesday, 19 days after his cancerous thyroid was removed.

Melvin, asked about superstitious behavior during the D-Backs’ hot start: “I, myself, am not, but I think some of our guys are. Superstitions run rampant in baseball. Everybody has their own little deals, whether it is a shirt or batting gloves or push pins, things like that. I would say there are probably very few guys that don’t have some sort of superstition. I might do it just in case.”