ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Bloomquist takes opportunity and runs with it. And hits, too.

Apr 12, 2011, 5:39 PM | Updated: 6:49 pm

Willie Bloomquist got the opening day start because Stephen Drew was injured and unable to go.

Drew has since returned, but manager Kirk Gibson has not been able to keep the former ASU Sun Devil out of the lineup.

The 33-year-old utility player has a hit in each of the eight games he has played in, with multiple hits in four of the contests. Oh, and he’s stolen six bases too.

Raise your hand if you saw that coming. Now, put your hand down because you’re a liar.

The first Sun Devil to ever play for the Diamondbacks, Bloomquist came to Arizona after a solid-but-not great nine seasons in the Major Leagues. He is a career .266 hitter and has stolen 110 bases, making his start not only surprising, but impressive too.

Will it last? Odds are, no. Baseball is a game of averages and guys don’t usually have career years in their 30s. That said, Bloomquist is as responsible for the team’s respectable start as anyone, and it would be wrong to discredit his .368 average as a fluke.

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Bloomquist takes opportunity and runs with it. And hits, too.