Dodgers activate Juan Uribe from DL, option Carlos Triunfel to Triple-A

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers on Thursday activated Juan Uribe from the disabled list before their four-game weekend series against the Cardinals at Dodger Stadium, welcoming the third baseman back after missing 34 games with a right hamstring strain.

In a corresponding move, infielder Carlos Triunfel was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque.

Uribe first strained his hamstring on May 8 against the Giants, though he wasn't placed on the disabled list. He missed five games and was limited to pinch hitting duty in the sixth game - he doubled - before returning to the lineup on May 16 in Arizona. Uribe was 4-for-17 (.235) in four games before aggravating the hamstring strain on a double against the Mets in New York on May 20.

On the season Uribe is hitting .303/.331/.454 with 11 doubles, four home runs and 18 RBI in 40 games.

His replacements have filled in admirably, most notably Justin Turner, who has hit .349/.413/.542 with nine extra-base hits and 14 RBI in 28 games since May 21. Turner started at third base in 21 of the 34 games Uribe missed, with Chone Figgins (six starts), Miguel Rojas (six) and Jamie Romak (once) also filling in at the hot corner.

As a group, counting only their plate appearances as third basemen, the quartet hit .298/.360/.435 with three home runs and 18 RBI in 34 games.

Uribe was 6-for-19 (.316) with two doubles in five minor league rehab games with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga, including three games at third base. Uribe last played with the Quakes on Tuesday then had Wednesday off before his activation.

Triunfel was 2-for-7 with a home run in seven games since getting recalled from Albuquerque on June 14. He played six games in the field, all at shortstop, totaling 22⅓ innings in all, including a pair of starts.