Chavez leaves with strained right oblique

Arizona third baseman Eric Chavez left the Diamondbacks' game against the Texas Rangers in the first inning with a strained right oblique.

Chavez grabbed his side after fouling off the second pitch he saw from Texas right-hander Justin Grimm on Thursday. Chavez also fouled off the first pitch.

Cliff Pennington replaced Chavez and eventually grounded out.

The 35-year-old Chavez is hitting .325 as a part-time starter at third base.

Chavez missed much of four straight seasons from 2008 to 2011 with back, neck and shoulder problems and a broken foot. He was on the seven-day concussion disabled list with the New York Yankees last season.