Outfielder Peralta misses 3rd game in row with illness

WASHINGTON - David Peralta was listed as the right fielder in the starting lineup posted in the Diamondbacks clubhouse on Thursday morning, but that changed after a meeting with manager Torey Lovullo.

Peralta missed the first two games of the series with flu-like symptoms, the same illness that’s been passed from player to player through the Diamondbacks clubhouse the past few weeks, and the club ultimately decided to give Peralta one more day.

“We penciled him in the original lineup but he came in today and felt like he was still feeling the effects of his illness,” Lovullo said. “He wanted to have a good work day where he got a little sweat, got more functional movement and gear up to get ready for Colorado.”

Peralta might have been extra cautious after what happened with second baseman Brandon Drury, who started on Wednesday night but had to come out of the game after six innings because he was feeling weak and dizzy. Drury struck out in each of his three at-bats.

“I think we learned a lesson yesterday that this is an illness that these guys are having a tough time working through,” Lovullo said. “Overall body strength and a little bit of dizziness involved – when you’re talking about those two things in baseball, it’s not a good combination.”

Peralta did make an appearance in Thursday’s game, grounding out as a pinch-hitter to lead off the eighth inning.

‘Tough’ move

In what manager Torey Lovullo described as a “tough situation,” the Diamondbacks optioned outfielder Jeremy Hazelbaker to Triple-A Reno to make room for right-hander Braden Shipley, who started Thursday’s series finale.

Hazelbaker had been a productive bat off the bench for the Diamondbacks in the season’s first month, going 8 for 26 (.308) with three extra-base hits and three walks. He hit his first home run of the season on Tuesday night against the Nationals.

“It was a tough decision,” Lovullo said. “He played well, did exactly what we wanted him to do. But sometimes this game can be unfair. It was a tough decision for us.”

The fact that Hazelbaker had options likely was a factor. If the club wanted to send out a bullpen arm, it would have had to risk losing a player like T.J. McFarland, Tom Wilhelmsen or Randall Delgado – all of whom have pitched well recently – on waivers or send down someone like Andrew Chafin, who has options but has also been throwing well.

Perhaps related to the move is the progress of outfielder Gregor Blanco, who was transferred to Triple-A Reno this week to continue his rehab from the strained oblique he suffered in spring training.

After the injury popped up late in camp, the Diamondbacks released him from his minor league deal but Blanco quickly re-signed on another minor league contract. Lovullo intimated that the club had assured Blanco a spot in the majors – which he seemed certain of having prior to the injury – once he was healthy.

“Out of fairness to what he walked through in spring training and some of the information he shared with us at the end of spring training for him to come back and re-sign with us, it spoke volumes about his interest and our commitment to him,” Lovullo said. “We want to make sure he’s healthy, first and foremost, and we’ll evaluate where he’s at. If there’s a need, he’ll be the guy to come back.”