Gibson says D-backs are ‘on target’

With spring training winding down, Arizona Diamondbacks’
skipper
Kirk Gibson is pretty careful about what adjectives he’d
use to describe what’s happened with his team this March.

The reigning National league Manager of the Year was asked
if he’d describe
this spring as “smooth”.

“I’m not going to say that,” Gibson said. “I mean, we’re
on target, cross our fingers, we haven’t had any serious
injuries. Everybody’s taking their turns, pitchers are
all getting in on their turns and getting their work in
in-between, and with a week to go, it’s gone well.”

Although wins and losses are not the best way to gauge
progress in the spring, the Diamondbacks pushed their
spring record to 11-15 with a 5-4 win over the Cleveland
Indians at Salt River Fields Thursday. Miguel Montero
clubbed a
three-run homer in the third inning that opened up the D-
backs’ lead and young lefty Tyler Skaggs was decent over
4.2
innings to get his first Cactus League win.

“He was a little wild early,” Gibson said of Skaggs. “He
was trying to command both sides of the plate. He was a
little better glove-side then he is arm-side, but overall
he battled, though. He did a good job of battling.”

That battle started in the top of the third inning, when
Casey Kotchman singled in Jason Donald to put Cleveland on
the board. Carlos Santana followed with a single and then
Skaggs hit Shelley Duncan to load the bases with two outs.
But Skaggs struck out Andy LaRoche to end the threat.

“Early, it was a little shaky, but I fought through it and
made some good pitches when I needed to,” Skaggs said.

Skaggs allowed two runs on five hits while striking out
five during his time on the mound. He lowered his spring
ERA to 7.43 on the day.

Arizona Sports’ Kyndra de St. Aubin contributed to this
report

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