Collmenter goes on DL, but D-backs get good news on Bloomquist
The Arizona Diamondbacks made another adjustment to their pitching staff Friday, placing right-hander Josh Collmenter on the disabled list with what the club said was ulcers. At the same time, the D-backs got some positive news regarding infielder Willie Bloomquist after an MRI on his back revealed no structural damage.
Collmenter, who has filled in well in long relief and in occasional spot starts since May, fell ill after returning from the 10-day road trip Thursday night, manager Kirk Gibson said. The D-backs recalled Brad Bergesen from Class AAA Reno to become the long man.
"When he went home, he got very, very sick," Gibson said.
The D-backs discussed putting Bloomquist on the disabled list during the road trip, when he missed the first six games and eight out of 10 because of his balky back. Bloomquist, who leads the NL with a .426 batting average with runners in scoring position, was not in the lineup in a 9-1 loss to Washington on Friday, but he appears to be improving, Gibson said.
"That's good news," Bloomquist said of the MRI result. "But for me it's really, really, really frustrating, given the situation we're in. There is no good time for an injury, especially when you don't know what you can expect from one day to the next. It puts everybody in a bind. One minute it will feel fine, the next minute it kinds of spasms up."
Bloomquist had three hits and drove in two runs in his last start in Pittsburgh on Wednesday and was in the starting lineup for Thursday's finale before being a late scratch when his back acted up. He hit in the batting cage before the game but could not continue.
"I was ready to go out for batting practice and my back wasn't," Bloomquist said.
Collmenter, 3-3 with a 4.24 ERA, made three consecutive quality starts on each side of the All-Star break before returning to the bullpen when Patrick Corbin was recalled from Class AAA Reno and placed in the rotation at the start of the trip. He is 0-1 with a 1.61 ERA in 13 relief appearances.
