Ian Kennedy smiles as he talks to his teammates during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Friday, Aug. 12, 2011, in Phoenix. Kennedy got his 15th victory of the season in a 4-3 Diamondbacks win.

No one seemed worried after closer J.J. Putz’s rough outing earlier in the week, but there was at least some level of concern when the Diamondbacks’ bullpen savior came down with a stiff back Friday afternoon.

Manager Kirk Gibson cautioned that it could be minor, but Putz did not make his scheduled appearance because he couldn’t get loose in the bullpen during the middle innings of Friday’s game.

“You’re always concerned, but we don’t know anything about it,” Gibson said. “It may go away, it may just be a spasm. He’s never had anything like that before. You certainly don’t want your closer to go down.”

Because he never has had it happen, Putz said he doesn’t know what to expect, but he figured there was no reason to push it with two weeks to go before Opening Day.

“Instead of trying to pitch through it and trying to go out there when you’re not 100 percent, it’s better (not to pitch) and see what happens tomorrow,” he said.

Assuming the stiffness doesn’t turn into anything serious, Putz said he has “plenty of time” to prepare for the regular season.

Putz, who did not retire any of the five batters he faced Wednesday, has pitched just twice in the Cactus League and once in a simulated game. By design, he got a late start to game situations, saying last month that anything more than “seven or eight” spring training appearances was “overkill.”

Nady’s progress

Gibson acknowledged that the final two weeks of spring training might be important for left fielder Xavier Nady, who has yet to get going offensively.

Gibson said Nady took infield and threw the ball well from left field Thursday, an encouraging sign for a player easing his way back to throwing full strength following a second reconstructive surgery on his elbow.

“He threw infield with an attitude,” Gibson said.

Nady sounded pleased with his throwing progress but less confident about how he’s doing at the plate. After striking out, grounding out and legging out an infield single Friday, he is just 8 for 40 (.200) in the Cactus League.

“I know obviously it’s an important next two weeks to keep working hard and find something going into the season,” he said. “I know it hasn’t come easy, but there’s a lot of time left, and I’m going to keep grinding away to get better.”

Nady was glad to hear that Gibson wants to get him more consistent at-bats in the coming days.

“That’s good,” he said. “I’ve got a lot going on in my swing, and it’s sometimes mechanical and sometimes mental. It’ll give me some time to piece it together and carry a positive note into April.”

Short hops

The Diamondbacks’ 8-5 win over the Seattle Mariners on Friday afternoon snapped a nine-game losing streak. They took the lead with four runs in the top of the ninth.

- Left-hander Joe Saunders is scheduled to start Saturday, his first game since March 6. His previously scheduled start was scratched when he came down with the flu.