PHOENIX — Anticipated fourth outfielder Ender Inciarte started for the second consecutive game Tuesday, this time in center field to give the Arizona Diamondbacks a perceived matchup edge against San Francisco Giants right-hander Ryan Vogelsong.
For Inciarte, the pitcher’s throwing arm does not seem to matter. Inciarte, a left-handed batter who gave starter A.J. Pollock a day off Tuesday in Arizona’s 7-6 win, hit .279 against right-handers and .273 against left-handers last season, his first in the majors.
He started in left field against Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner on Monday, and he is expected to see plenty of time in left against lefties. His solid track record against them was a factor in the D-backs’ decision to release right-handed-hitting Cody Ross on Saturday and keep three catchers on the roster.
Inciarte singled against Bumgarner and tough Giants’ situational specialist Javier Lopez on Monday, which is really nothing out of the ordinary. Inciarte is 5-for-12 (.417) against Bumgarner and is 2-for-3 against the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw, who is scheduled to start against the D-backs on Saturday.
Inciarte said he tempers his approach against lefties.
“I concentrate more because I know it is not easy lefty-on-lefty, so I just try to make sure I see the ball and hit it up the middle,” Inciarte said. “I make sure to let the ball travel more. I just make sure to stay middle-away so I can lay off those dirty sliders. That’s been my approach in the minors, and it has been good for me.”
Only Miami Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (8-for-13, .615) and Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro (10-for-24, .417) have hit as well against Bumgarner among players with at least 13 plate appearances against him.