D-Backs notebook: Johnson held out due to rain delay

CHICAGO - Randy Johnson had to put his perfect record at Wrigley Field on hold Sunday.

When the Windy City also turned cold and rainy, the decision to bump Randy Johnson from his scheduled start was an easy call, manager Bob Melvin said.

D-Backs swept out of Windy City by Cubs

“With a guy that’s had the problems he has with his back, to send him there in those conditions … it will certainly be wet, and windy conditions (can) play on the back,” Melvin said. “There were a lot of reasons not to pitch him today.”

The Cubs did the same with their starter, pushing Carlos Zambrano back to Monday.

Johnson will pitch Tuesday, in the first game of the D-Backs’ three-game series against Colorado at Chase Field, after an off day Monday.

“It was Bob Melvin’s decision,” said Johnson, 12-0 against the Cubs in his career and 4-0 with a 1.00 ERA in five Wrigley Field starts.

“With so much uncertainty, he thought it might be in my best interest. Obviously I was prepared to pitch. I’ll be ready to pitch Tuesday. I don’t think it will rain there.”

Johnson was told about the change to Edgar Gonzalez about three hours before the game.

He will pitch on six days’ rest Tuesday, noting that much rest is “not always” a good thing.

Johnson played long toss in a steady drizzle with bullpen coach Jeff Motuzas about 90 minutes before the game, saying “I don’t want to go that long without throwing.”

DAVIS REMAINS ON TRACK

Doug Davis threw the prescribed 85 pitches in his first rehab assignment for Triple-A Tucson on Saturday night, giving up two runs on six hits while striking out three and walking one in a 7-2 loss to Memphis.

It was his first game since his cancerous thyroid was removed April 10.

“I can’t tell you how relieved I am,” he told the Arizona Daily Star afterward.

Davis’ next rehab start has been pushed back to either Friday or Saturday, Melvin said, since the major league starters also were pushed back because of the inclement weather in Chicago.

Davis could move into Max Scherzer’s spot in the rotation, and the D-Backs want to time Davis’ rehab start so that he can pitch on normal rest when returning.

PEER REVIEW

It is safe to say the Cubs’ Ryan Dempster sees the D-Backs as a threat.

“They’re big wins,” Dempster said of the Cubs’ weekend sweep.

“When you are playing the best team in baseball, no matter what time of the year it is, it’s important to win some of those games.”

SHORT HOPS

Miguel Montero wore a pink chest protector and pink shin guards Sunday, equipment supplied by Major League Baseball to raise awareness of breast cancer on Mother’s Day. Montero, Conor Jackson, Justin Upton and Chris Burke used a pink bat, and many players wore pink sweat bands. …

Chad Tracy missed a third rehab game in Tucson because of a case of the flu Saturday. …

The D-Backs extended their affiliation agreement with Class A South Bend of the Midwest League through 2012.