D-Backs notebook: Petit making case for spot in rotation, but who goes?

There are rumblings about a possible shift in the Diamondbacks’ starting rotation.

A day after an impressive showing by emergency starter Yusmeiro Petit, manager Bob Melvin said the right-hander has made a case to stay in the rotation.

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However, if Micah Owings is healthy by his next start, that would leave six starters for five spots.

“We’ll kind of process that going forward,” said Melvin when asked about Petit possibly getting another start. “We’ll see how Micah is, see where our roster shakes out, see what kind of moves we have to make in the coming days. Certainly it didn’t hurt his case. Whether or not we use him to start again — based on Micah’s availability or we re­configure things a little bit — it was an impressive outing.”

Owings and Randy Johnson have both been shaky in recent outings.

Owings has lost five straight decisions and watched his ERA balloon by nearly a run-and-a-half per game to 5.18. Johnson was battered for seven earned runs in 3 2/3 innings last time out and the team has lost his last eight starts. After the game, he lamented the lack of velocity on his pitches, a common refrain after poor outings this season.

“When you have 96, 97 (mph fastballs) you don’t have to be as fine,” Melvin said. “When the velocity’s not there, he has to be fine with his location. In the games that he’s talking about, it hasn’t been. Can he still be effective when his location is there? Absolutely. We’ve seen it several times this year. He’s just going through a period where his command hasn’t been great and what’ll happen is he’s been hit.”

Melvin was asked earlier this season about replacing Johnson in the starting rotation with Max Scherzer, but dismissed the notion.

MAKING A MOVE

A move to bring up an offensive player from Triple-A could be made Friday.

The Diamondbacks currently have just four bench players, limiting Melvin’s in-game options, because a taxed bullpen needs all the help it can get.

Ace Brandon Webb went six innings on Thursday to help the cause, and Dan Haren goes Friday.

“(The move) could be (today), it could be (Saturday),” Melvin said.

Emilio Bonifacio would seem to be the most likely candidate. The speedster plays second base in Triple-A, but got some time in the outfield during winter ball and could get some action there with Eric Byrnes out for a lengthy amount of time.

FAIR OR FOUL?

Mike Cameron hit a two-run home run down the left-field line in the top of the sixth inning.

When the ball went over the fence, several in the D-Backs bullpen — where the ball landed — and left fielder Chris Burke all motioned the ball was foul.

The umpires huddled, but the call stood. Melvin said the umpires and catcher Robby Hammock saw the ball hit off the fair pole and ricochet to the left, making it look foul by four feet.

“I think they probably got that right,” Melvin said.

SECOND OPINIONS

Edgar Gonzalez will see noted orthopedic Dr. Lewis Yocum on Monday in Los Angeles for a second opinion on his elbow injury. Gonzalez was placed on the disabled list on June 28.

Extra opinions that Eric Byrnes (torn left hamstring) receives will be from area doctors. The MRI taken on his hamstring can get mailed to the doctors.

Melvin said the team was still in the process of figuring out what to do with Byrnes. If surgery is the decision, he will be out for four to six months.