| PHOENIX -- Matt Williams returned to the Arizona
Diamondbacks' lineup on Tuesday night after missing the first 43 games of
the season because of a broken foot.
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| Williams |
"This is my opening day," said Williams, who got a standing
ovation from his teammates when he trotted out for the team stretch
before Tuesday night's game against Pittsburgh. "I'll have my
private moment with myself and go from there. I'm disappointed that
that happened, but I'm ready to play now."
Williams went 2-for-4 and started three inning-ending double
plays at third base as Arizona beat the Pirates 6-1.
Williams broke the second metatarsal bone in his right foot
March 28, when he fouled a pitch off the arch during an exhibition
game against the Chicago White Sox.
It was the second time he broke that bone with a foul ball. The
first break was more severe and sidelined Williams for 68 games in
1995.
On Tuesday, Williams wore a right shoe modified with a titanium
sole to ease the stress on his foot, and a half-moon of Kevlar over
the arch -- a protective design he plans to wear the rest of his
career.
"Matt's been really good on this process, I think, because he
remembers what happened the last time," Arizona general manager
Joe Garagiola Jr. said. "He has not pushed this. At every level,
it's been, 'OK, it feels good enough to try the next thing.' So
we're very confident that he's at no risk."
Williams, activated before the game, became the second key
player in three days to rejoin the Diamondbacks. Closer Matt Mantei
was activated from the DL on Sunday after spending 15 days
strengthening his right shoulder.
He did not get into his first eligible game -- a 7-6 loss to the
New York Mets on Sunday that sent the Diamondbacks to their sixth
loss in the last seven games.
"Keep in mind that these two guys are coming back, and I don't
think you assume that they fit into the form they've had in the
past," Arizona manager Buck Showalter said. "Eventually they'll
get there. My experience with things like that is that they have
the adrenaline the first day or two, and then they have a little
spell before they really get into a groove."
Williams had surgery April 1 to insert a metal plate that helped
stabilize the foot during rehabilitation and wore a protective boot
when he began taking batting practice May 5. The All-Star third
baseman spent a week with the Double-A El Paso Diablos farm team,
hitting .461 (6-for-13) in five games.
His return was more than a week in advance of the June 1 target
date set by team physician Dr. David Zeman.
Williams, 34, set career highs of 142 RBI and 190 hits last
season, getting 37 doubles and 35 home runs while batting .303. | |
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