Other articles by Sarah Trotto:

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Justin Upton skipped Triple-A when he ascended to the major leagues last summer as a 19-year-old baseball prodigy.

The Diamondbacks outfielder made his debut at the highest minor-league level on Monday, taking batting practice and serving as the Tucson Sidewinders designated hitter in their game against Tacoma. He went 2 for 5 in Tucson's 9-4 victory.

Upton struck out, flew out, grounded out and hit two singles.

Upton is expected to play five innings in right field today when the team plays in Colorado Springs and work his way up to nine innings. He is scheduled to be with the team until Aug. 22.

"It's the same clubhouse we use in spring training," said Upton after partaking in a pre-game poker game. He jumped from Double-A to the D-backs last season, bypassing Tucson. "As far as the clubhouse, everything's fine."

"The field's in pretty decent shape," he said, making a face. "My goal is to get my work in. That's my main goal."

Upton has been sidelined since July 9 for a strained left oblique. He began batting practice last week.

"It's been definitely frustrating, but at this point I'm just looking forward to being back," Upton said.

In his sixth game since coming off the disabled list, right-hander Max Scherzer allowed two runs, struck out seven and walked one in five innings for the win. He gave up a two-out, two-run double in the fifth inning and threw 50 of his 74 pitches for strikes.

He has allowed five runs in 16 1/3 innings since he was sidelined for shoulder inflammation. A candidate to rejoin the D-backs, Scherzer has increased his pitch count with each outing.

"I thought Scherzer took a good step forward in building his volume," said D-backs farm director A.J. Hinch, who was in attendance at Tucson Electric Park.

"He was in control of the game and mixed in quality secondary stuff. He looked good."

Earlier in the day, the D-backs altered their outfield, trading for Cincinnati Reds left fielder Adam Dunn in exchange for Class A pitcher Dallas Buck and two players to be named later.

"He's going to be good for our lineup," Upton said. "He's a great player, has a lot of power and he's a veteran guy who's been around for a while, so he'll be able to help out not only in the clubhouse but also on the field."

D-backs left-handed reliever Doug Slaten (strained right knee) struck out all three batters he faced in a scoreless inning in his fourth and likely final rehab appearance with Tucson. Ten of his 12 pitches were for strikes.

Slaten allowed three runs in his 3 2/3 innings with the Sidewinders.

● Manager Bill Plummer said starting pitcher Micah Owings (shoulder stiffness) will probably miss his start Wednesday. "Precautionary more than anything." Plummer said.

● Jesus Merchan and Donnie Kelly each finished with three hits and two RBIs.

Golden League interested in Tucson

A team from the Golden Baseball League remains a strong candidate to replace the Tucson Sidewinders when they depart for Reno, Nev.

The league commissioner said the independent association is interested in Tucson and will add roughly two to four teams for next season.

"We would love to have a Golden Baseball League team in Tucson if the Sidewinders end up moving for next year," Golden League commissioner Kevin Outcalt said Monday.

Owner Jay Zucker sold the Sidewinders last year to SK Baseball, which wants to move the team to Reno, where a stadium is being built in anticipation of an April 2009 debut.

Zucker said he plans to make a major announcement about the future of professional baseball in Tucson at the final game on Sept. 1.

In order for an independent team to play in Tucson, Outcalt said the Sidewinders will have to leave and the league must have an operating-rights agreement with a local owner for a suitable facility.

"TEP and Hi Corbett are very fine minor-league ballparks," Outcalt said.

According to Outcalt, the league will possibly add two teams in Canada and two others in the United States for the 2009 season.

"Tucson would be great," Outcalt said. "It fits in the geography where we have a number of teams from St. George, Utah, to Yuma, two teams in Southern California. It's a baseball-rich area in terms of history, youth leagues, fan base, so we would love to have a team in Tucson."

Zucker declined to comment on the league on Monday. "We're still working out all the details" about a professional team, he said.

Micah Owings has been dealing with a stiff shoulder, and manager Bill Plummer said the starting pitcher would be seeing a doctor.

Owings declined to comment on his shoulder, which was wrapped up before Monday's game. The D-backs optioned him to Tucson on July 29 after he went 6-9 with a 5.93 ERA.

Catcher Richard Mercado, who played on the 2004 Arizona Wildcats College World Series team, skipped Double-A to join the Sidewinders on Sunday. The club was down to nine position players after the D-backs recalled outfielder Jeff Salazar.

"It really was a big surprise because I was in High-A and some injuries happened and they needed someone here to help out and I'm glad it was me," said Mercado, whom the D-backs drafted in the 12th round in 2004. He missed much of the 2005 because of a shoulder injury and a torn biceps tendon.

"It's kinda neat to come back to Tucson, see some friends," said Mercado, whose parents own a house in Tucson.

The addition of Mercado gives the Sidewinders four active catchers and three active infielders.