LOS ANGELES – Ryan Flaherty was in the Braves lineup at third base for Friday’s series opener against the Dodgers, his first start since May 22 and the first time in 12 games that anyone other than Johan Camargo started at the position.
Camargo started 11 consecutive games and 17 of 19 at third base since the Braves released veteran Jose Bautista.
Flaherty had only 14 plate appearances in the past 20 days before Friday, going 3-for-13 with a double and a walk in 10 games during that period including one start.
With the Braves’ other utility man, Charlie Culberson, making the most of starts in left field while Ronald Acuna’s been on the disabled list, Braves manager Brian Snitker said he wanted to give Flaherty a full game instead of his usual pinch-hit or other late-innings substitution work.
“It’s been good for Culby to get a bunch of these at-bats for when Ronny gets back, and I wanted to get (Flaherty) a game,” Snitker said. “He got a pinch-hit the other day (Flaherty doubled Wednesday at San Diego). For that as much as anything, because he’s coming off the bench, just get him three or four at-bats.”
Flaherty began the season as the Braves’ regular third baseman when Camargo started the season on the DL.
Flaherty hit .310 (27-for-87) with five doubles, two homers, nine RBIs and a .406 on-base percentage in 26 games before the Braves brought Bautista from Triple-A for what proved to be an unproductive couple of weeks and led to Bautista being released and the third-base job going to Camargo.
Since moving into the primary third-base job May 19, Camargo was 13-for-60 (.217) with three doubles, three homers, nine RBIs, 12 walks and a .356 OBP in 18 games.
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