D-backs pitcher Ian Kennedy starts 2013 off right

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Ian Kennedy surprised some folks when he first stepped into the batter’s box on Opening Day.

The song being played over the Chase Field speakers was Taylor Swift’s “Trouble,” and it is the type of tune generally listened to by young girls.

A guest of Arizona Sports 620’s Doug and Wolf Friday, Kennedy said the choice was made by D-backs president Derrick Hall’s daughter Kylie.

“She was pumped, and she didn’t even want to pick that song because it was Taylor Swift,” Kennedy said. “But I said ‘no, I want it to be that one’ because it is Taylor Swift and I want the reaction that you guys will give me.”

Well played, Ian.

Of course, Kennedy is known more for his exploits on the mound than at the plate, and his performance Monday was about as good as one could have hoped.

Facing a tough St. Louis lineup, the D-backs ace allowed just five hits and two runs in seven innings of work. He struck out eight and walked just one.

It was Kennedy’s third consecutive Opening Day start, and it was his best performance of the three.

“It is good to throw well in your very first outing of the year,” Kennedy said. “And hopefully just take that into the next couple.

“But you like to start out on a good roll like that.”

Kennedy said the hope is that the rest of the staff follows suit, but on a personal level, the last thing a pitcher wants to do is struggle right out of the gate.

“You don’t want to start off getting hit around a little bit or just have a mediocre start,” he said. “I was really happy how that start was on Monday night.”

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