D-backs 3B Lamb leaves game vs. Cubs with left shoulder injury
Jul 26, 2018, 1:59 PM | Updated: 8:20 pm
Arizona Diamondbacks' Jake Lamb watches his RBI single off Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 24, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Diamondbacks third baseman Jake Lamb was pulled Thursday after the second inning of a 7-6 walkoff loss to the Cubs due to a left shoulder contusion.
His exit became apparent in the third inning, when Ketel Marte pinch-hit for Lamb in the fifth spot in Arizona’s batting order.
Lamb injured the shoulder making a diving play, manager Torey Lovullo told media in Chicago.
“He has not been placed on the DL. We want to get a look at him before anything takes place,” Lovullo said after the game.
The plan is for Lamb to travel to San Diego with the team where he will have an MRI. The D-backs will go from there as to whether or not Lamb needs to head back to Phoenix for tests.
In Lamb’s place, Marte moved to second base and slid Daniel Descalso from second to third after Marte replaced Lamb in the lineup.
Lamb is batting .222 with six home runs and 31 RBI this season.
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He missed games from April 3 through May 16 this year due to an AC joint injury in his left shoulder.
A prolonged injury for the 27-year-old left-hander would stretch Arizona thin. Descalso could play third base on a regular basis with Chris Owings adding depth at second base.
The Diamondbacks are awaiting the return of third baseman Deven Marrero, who is shelved with an oblique injury but was expected to begin a rehab assignment in the near future.
Against the Cubs on Thursday in the finale of a four-game series, Arizona built a 6-1 lead after the top of the fifth inning. In the fourth, the D-backs scored via a two-run homer by catcher Alex Avila, a former Cub who signed with the D-backs this offseason. Then in the fifth frame, a series of four walks led to a two-out grand slam by Arizona shortstop Nick Ahmed, the team’s first of the year.
Chicago got two runs against Arizona starter Zack Godley in the bottom of the fifth and another in the sixth to pull within 6-4.
Arizona held that advantage until the bottom of the night. D-backs closer Brad Boxberger allowed a one-out, two-run homer to David Bote that tied the game before the next batter, Anthony Rizzo, hit a solo shot for the win.
