PHOENIX - Matt Williams returned to the Arizona Diamondbacks' lineup on Tuesday after missing the first 43 games of the season because of a broken foot.
''This is my opening day,'' said the former Carson Capitol, who got a standing ovation from his teammates when he trotted out for warmups 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 RBIs and 190 hits last season, getting 37 doubles and 35 home runs while batting .303.
