D-Backs notebook: Catcher Snyder returns from DL today

Starting catcher Chris Snyder returned to the Diamondbacks after a one-game minor league rehab stint on Friday and is expected to be activated today. Snyder bruised his left testicle when it was hit by a foul tip on June 30.

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He caught the full nine innings for Single-A Visalia and went 2-for-5 with a homer.

“It was a good test (Friday) night,” Snyder said. “In the second inning there was a foul tip that hit the ground and came up and got me again. Everything held up good. It’s fine and we’re good to go.”

Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said Snyder could have been activated Saturday, but after a full game and a flight for Snyder, the team decided to wait a day.

Snyder said he enjoyed his quick stint in the minors. “I had a blast,” Snyder said. “I hit a homer and (his Visalia teammates) gave me the silent treatment.”

Robby Hammock was called up when Snyder was placed on the 15-day disabled list, and seems the most likely candidate to get sent down, unless Melvin prefers keeping three catchers.

FORCING THE ACTION

Melvin thought Chris Young should have attempted to steal second base with two outs and the score tied at 7 in the ninth inning of Friday night’s game.

Alex Romero followed with a single that put runners on first and third, but Young would have scored on the hit had he been on second base. Augie Ojeda grounded out to end the threat, and Arizona lost in 11 innings.

Young stole 27 bases last season but has just five this year.

“I agree (he should have attempted a steal),” Melvin said. “He just didn’t feel like he could get a jump. … That’s absolutely the type of situation you have to push it a little bit.”

Melvin said he prefers to give natural base stealers like Young the green light to steal , but admitted that calling for it on a specific pitch might be needed to pick up the running game.

“I have to get a little better about making sure we push the envelope a little more,” Melvin said. “To this point I probably haven’t been as good at that as I should be.”

SLATEN TO DL

Left-handed reliever Doug Slaten was placed on the 15-day disabled list with soreness in his right knee.

The injury may affect him for as little as three days, but with Chad Qualls nursing a back injury, the Diamondbacks were already short on arms in the bullpen.

Billy Buckner was called up from Triple-A Tucson to fill a roster spot.

Buckner went 1-0 with a 6.75 ERA in his previous stint with the club, giving up a pair of runs in 2 2/3 innings.

Slaten had microfracture surgery on the knee in the offseason.

SHORT HOPS

Juan Cruz (oblique) will throw a bullpen session today and will need to throw at least one more before the team decides when to activate him from the disabled list.

Saturday’s lineup was identical to Friday’s. Melvin has used 85 different lineups in 97 games.