The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Third-base platoon in works
Ruiz has earned share of job with Garcia, Snitker says.
SAN FRANCISCO — Adonis Garcia’s scheduled return from the disabled list has been pushed back several days, and when he’s back there will be a division of labor at third base between him and rookie Rio Ruiz, who’s earned playing time in the Braves’ view.
That was the gist of manager Brian Snitker’s comments before Friday night’s game at San Francisco, a 2-0 Braves victory in the opener of a nine-game, three-city trip that continues in Anaheim on Monday and finishes in Cincinnati on June 2-4. Garcia had been scheduled to return during the Anaheim series, but Snitker said the revised rehab plan has Garcia returning during the Cincinnati series.
Ruiz is expected to be the regular third baseman until then and have at least a platoon role after Garcia returns. Snitker didn’t elaborate on how that might work out, but it’s conceivable Ruiz could get most starts against right-handers — which means most of the starts, period — as long as he continues to produce and can play good enough defense.
“That (division of duties) is still going to be up in the air,” Snitker said. “Rio’s here, and he’s doing pretty good. Right now (the thinking is) probably split it up a little bit, maybe try to get a really productive position out of both of them.”
After being called up during the just-completed homestand, Ruiz went 0 for 3 on May 18 against Toronto in his first game and struck out in a pinch-hit appearance May 19 against the Nationals. But after that he was 8 for 21 (.381) with four RBIs and two walks in the last six games of the homestand.
Ruiz, at 23, could well be part of the Braves’ plans, and by watching him the rest of the season team officials can at least get a better idea of the feasibility of Ruiz being their third baseman next season.
Pitcher helps himself: When the Giants intentionally walked Dansby Swanson to put two runners on base with two out in the seventh inning of a scoreless game Friday night with pitcher Jaime Garcia on deck, Snitker could’ve brought in a pinch hitter.
He has done so plenty of times in similar situations this season, and to say it was with mixed results would be putting it kindly.
But with Garcia pitching efficiently and effectively and the Braves’ bench less than formidable, Garcia was left in to hit. And hit he did, sending a ball through the left side for an RBI single, with Swanson hustling to score a second run on the decisive play in the Braves’ win.
“I was glad he left me in. It worked out,” Garcia said. “Their pitcher, (Matt) Cain, was pitching great. I just got a good fastball in the middle of the plate and was able to do some damage with it.”
The Braves opened their trip with their first shutout of the season and 10th win in 15 games. They’ve won six consecutive series openers and haven’t lost any of the past five series, winning three and splitting two.
Tyler Flowers, who started the seventh-inning rally with a single, scored from second base and was struck by left fielder Brandon Belt’s throw, redirecting the ball toward the Braves’ dugout just far enough for Swanson to charge around third base and slide in for the 2-0 lead.
“(Flowers) was going, so I was just going to keep going,” Swanson said. “It’s just kind of a baseball play, just keep going and follow him. I was just watching the play as I was running and I saw it ricochet off him and I just kept rounding (third base). I thought it scooted far enough way where I could make it home.”