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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Knocks game-winning hit
Rotowire
Vargas started at second base and went 1-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's 6-5 extra-inning victory over the Athletics.
Vargas supplied the game-winning hit in the bottom of the 10th inning, when his bases-loaded singled completed the walk-off win. In addition to sharing first base with Tim Tawa and Tyler Locklear, Vargas has also stepped in at second base -- Tuesday's start at the keystone was his third in the last six contests. That deployment reduces the stress on Ketel Marte -- no stranger to overuse injuries -- who operated as the designated hitter in those three games. Vargas, who has cooled off signficantly from his hot April, is batting .268 (11-for-41) with two doubles, one triple, four RBI, one steal and three runs scored over 13 games in July.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Moves to first base
Rotowire
Vargas started at first base and went 1-for-4 with a triple in Friday's 5-4 loss to St. Louis.
Vargas stepped in at first base, which has become a revolving door for Arizona; the team ranks last in the league at the position with a .594 OPS. With Pavin Smith designated for assignment, Vargas and Tim Tawa are filling the void. Those two will compete with Tyler Locklear, who was called up Friday and raked at Triple-A Reno (.895 OPS). The switch-hitting Vargas could have an edge against right-handers, but he's batted just .149 (18-for-121) over the last 44 games.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Resting up Saturday
Rotowire
Vargas isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Dodgers.
Vargas will sit down for the beginning of Saturday's game after going 1-for-5 with three strikeouts in the series opener. His absence will open up first base for Tim Tawa.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Logs second steal
Rotowire
Vargas went 1-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Wednesday's 10-4 loss to the Padres.
Vargas was included in the lineup for the fifth time in six games. He's made three starts at first base as well as one each at second and shortstop during that span as he looks to be settling into more of a utility role. Vargas has gone 5-for-18 over five games in July, and while that's not all that impressive, he's still showing more consistency at the plate than his main competition for playing time, Pavin Smith. Vargas is batting .257 with a .699 OPS, seven home runs, 46 RBI, 39 runs scored, 12 doubles, two triples and two steals through 79 games this season.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Back on bench Tuesday
Rotowire
Vargas is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Padres.
Vargas will hit the bench after he started in each of the last four games -- once at second base, three times at first base -- and went 4-for-15 with a double, a walk and two RBI. Though his production has tailed off after a scorching start to the season, Vargas could nonetheless be encroaching on Pavin Smith's role as Arizona's primary first baseman. The left-handed Smith will be included in the lineup Tuesday, but he sat in favor of Vargas in two of the Diamondbacks' previous three matchups versus righties.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Makes second straight start
Rotowire
Vargas started at first base and went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Brewers.
Vargas' eighth-inning double plated what eventually turned out to be the winning run. He made a second straight start at first base and is 4-for-8 with two RBI in those two games. Saturday's start was against a right-hander, which is usually Pavin Smith's job. Even though the early-season shine has come off Vargas' bat -- he had a .102 batting average and .336 OPS over 34 games from May 20 through the end of June -- he could gain more opportunities, as Smith (.152/.260/.212) is having his own struggles at the plate.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Racks up three hits
Rotowire
Vargas went 3-for-5 with one RBI in Friday's 7-4 extra-innings loss to the Brewers.
Vargas started at first base against left-hander Kyle Harrison and delivered a good game. While Vargas remains a regular in the lineup versus southpaws, his playing time versus right-handers has been limited lately. He hit just .100 over 23 games in June to lose out on a starting role and will likely be limited to utility duties as long as Arizona's infield is mostly healthy. Vargas is hitting .263 with a .709 OPS, seven home runs, 45 RBI, 38 runs scored and a stolen base over 273 plate appearances this season.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Drawing start against righty
Rotowire
Vargas will start at first base and bat seventh in Sunday's game against the Twins.
Vargas will crack the starting nine for the fourth time in five games, though Sunday marks the first time during that stretch that the'll be included in the lineup against a right-hander (Mike Paredes). Over Arizona's last four contests, Vargas has gone 3-for-12 with one double, two walks, five RBI and three runs, but he's still sitting on a lowly .368 OPS overall in June.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Returns to starting lineup
Rotowire
Vargas started at first base and went 0-for-4 in Wednesday's 8-0 loss to the Marlins.
Vargas started for the first time since last Thursday, when he was removed from a game due to a thigh injury. He'd exclusively come off the bench since then, but Vargas has been replaced as the primary starter at first base by prospect LuJames Groover. Vargas is 1-for-18 over eight June games.
Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Out of lineup again
Rotowire
Vargas is not in the Diamondbacks' starting lineup against the Nationals on Sunday.
It's the third game in a row in which Vargas will be on the bench for the start of the game. With Pavin Smith serving as the team's DH, Vargas has been losing playing time to rookie LuJames Groover, who is starting at first base and batting eighth in Sunday's series finale.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Comes off bench again
Rotowire
Vargas (thigh) entered Saturday's game as a pinch hitter, went 0-for-1, and finished as the designated hitter in a 6-1 loss to Washington.
Vargas, who was removed from Thursday's game with a thigh issue, has come off the bench in the next two contests. He was able to play defense Friday before getting a plate appearance Saturday, indicating he has no limitations and may simply be slipping back into a bench role. The recent activation of Pavin Smith from the injured list and the call-up of prospect LuJames Groover, who started at first base Friday and Saturday, appears to be impacting Vargas' playing time.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Not in Saturday's lineup
Rotowire
Vargas (thigh) is not in the Diamondbacks' starting lineup against the Nationals on Saturday.
Vargas is dealing with a left thigh contusion that forced him to leave Thursday's game against the Dodgers. He entered Friday's game against Washington after being absent from the starting lineup, so Vargas could be available off the bench for the Diamondbacks for Saturday's contest. LuJames Groover will start at first base and bat eighth.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Enters game late
Rotowire
Vargas (thigh) entered Friday's game in the eighth inning to play second base. He did not get a plate appearance in a 14-1 loss to the Nationals.
Vargas was injured in a scary collision with Los Angeles' Max Muncy on Thursday but appears to have avoided a serious injury. That he was able to play the field for a couple of innings is an encouraging sign that Vargas can resume his role sharing first base and DH with occasional work at other infield spots.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Sitting down Friday
Rotowire
Vargas (thigh) isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against the Nationals, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Vargas left Thursday's game with a thigh injury after a collision, and the D-backs will keep him out of action Friday to allow him to recover. His absence will allow LuJames Groover to make his MLB debut starting at first base and batting fifth.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Leaves game after collision
Rotowire
Vargas was removed from Thursday's game against the Dodgers in the fifth inning after colliding with Max Muncy at first base, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports.
Muncy legged out an infield single in the top of the fifth, but he and Vargas violently collided at the bag. Both players spent several minutes on the ground before each was helped off the field. Pavin Smith has replaced Vargas at first base. Vargas went 0-for-2 at the plate before the injury.
Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Considered day-to-day
Rotowire
Manager Torey Lovullo said Vargas is day-to-day with a bruised left thigh and rib cage after colliding with Max Muncy in Thursday's game against the Dodgers, Jose M. Romero of The Arizona Republic reports.
While Vargas is considered day-to-day, Lovullo said Vargas is unlikely to play Friday against the Nationals. It's still good news after he and Muncy were involved in a big collision at first base in the fifth inning Thursday. Pavin Smith came on to replace Vargas at first base following his injury.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Productive outs in win
Rotowire
Vargas went 1-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's 7-5 win over San Francisco.
Vargas had a couple of productive outs that knocked in runs. He's been in a significant slump the last two weeks -- Tuesday's eighth-inning double snapped an 0-for-22 run -- but Vargas continues to lead the team with 34 RBI. The 34-year-old infielder is slashing .303/.332/.486 over 194 plate appearances.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Day off amid mini slump
Rotowire
Vargas is not in the lineup for Monday's game in San Francisco.
Vargas is in the middle of a mini slump, having gone hitless over his last five contests. Jose Fernandez will grab a start at first base while Vargas regroups.
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