D-Backs notebook: Snyder in hitting groove again

CHICAGO - Chris Snyder again appears to be the productive hitter he was in the second half of 2007. Snyder has raised his batting average 99 points, to .277 while hitting safely in 11 of his last 12 starts after getting one of the Diamondbacks’ three hits Friday.

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Working with hitting coach Rick Schu, Snyder tweaked his setup slightly, moving his hands back to make for a shorter, quicker swing.

“Chris’ bat speed is really good when that (left) shoulder really stays closed and his hands work,” Schu said.

“He’s been really keeping that shoulder closed, and the bat speed is just wonderful.”

Snyder has 15 hits in his last 38 at-bats, a .395 average, with four doubles, a triple and two home runs.

He was third among NL catchers with 18 RBIs after Friday afternoon’s game. The Cubs’ Geovany Soto led with 24.

“I’m confident,” Snyder said. “I’ll just try to keep it going.”

UNUSUAL DOUBLE PLAY

The Cubs’ Soto was involved in a seldom seen double play that took the D-Backs out of their final rally in the eighth inning Friday.

With Augie Ojeda on first base, Eric Byrnes swung through a 3-2 pitch as Ojeda stole second base.

Byrnes’ long back swing appeared to graze Soto, however, and Byrnes’ follow-through landed him in front of the plate, so home plate umpire Ted Barrett called Ojeda out because of Byrnes’ interference.

“He said (Byrnes) made contact with the bat, and got out in front of home plate to inhibit the throwing lane,” said D-Backs manager Bob Melvin, who was focused on the play at second base.

“I was actually watching the runner. I was watching Augie.”

THE NEW WRIGLEY

Wrigley Field is radically different after an infield makeover last winter in which the football field-like crown was removed.

Melvin and his coaches can align their defense without having to stand on the top step of the first base dugout to check positioning, and hitters can get a full look at the defenders.

“Before when you hit, you couldn’t see the center fielder’s legs,” D-Backs third baseman Mark Reynolds said.

SHORT HOPS

Orlando Hudson (hamstring) took batting practice and fielded grounders in pregame work for the first time since tweaking his hamstring Monday, although his status today is undetermined, Melvin said. Hudson is 0-for-5 with three strikeouts in his career against Ryan Dempster, the Cubs’ scheduled starter.

Conor Jackson returned to the starting lineup and walked twice in four plate appearances in his first game since a collision with Philadelphia base runner Shane Victorino in the eighth inning Wednesday. Jackson suffered a headache and nausea, and was held out Thursday because of the headache, although Melvin said Jackson improved by game time and could have played.