PHOENIX – Jace Peterson was scratched from the lineup for Monday night’s series opener at Arizona, a day after hitting a walk-off homer in the 10th inning to beat the Nationals.
He was scratched due to soreness in several areas of his body following Peterson’s collision with the outfield wall on a terrific catch to end the third inning. It was his first major league game in center field.
“I’m a little sore, but I could play today,” said Peterson, who asked to remain in the lineup Monday, to no avail. It’s just more they want me to kind of take a day and get treatment. I’m sure at some point (in the game) I’ll be able to get in there.”
He had a red mark over the bridge of his nose.
“My shoulder’s a little sore, face is a little sore, neck’s a little sore, but nothing serious at all,” said the former defensive back at McNeese State University, who sounded as if he almost enjoyed the collision. “I want to see Statcast and see how fast I was running when I went into the wall. I know it was a big collision; Nick (Markakis, who played first base Sunday) said he heard it from the infield. I’m just blessed and thankful that it was nothing serious.”
Peterson was in the original lineup at second base Monday, but was scratched and replaced by Chase d’Arnaud after being checked out by Braves trainers. The medical staff and interim manager Brian Snitker decided to give him at least the first half of the game to rest and get treatment, then bring him off the bench if needed.
“We got here and he wanted to play — he’s a tough kid, man,” Snitker said. “I said it’s probably that football in him that saved him right there. He wanted to play, but it’s almost like he was in a major wreck yesterday. He’s not going to get a complete day off (because Braves were short-handed on the bench), but maybe we’ll just kind of lessen what you’re going to go through out there today, get some treatment and maybe just play half a game.”
