Wright makes great barehanded play for out

NEW YORK -- Before injuring his back, David Wright routinely proved that use of a glove was optional at third base.

It seems that little has changed. Wright made a barehanded play to end the third inning of Tuesday night's 6-2 loss against the Braves, throwing all the way across the diamond to nail Hector Olivera at first. Drifting deep toward the third-base line to field Olivera's bouncer, Wright figured he could save some time by barehanding it and throwing off his back foot.

"It takes a little time to transfer it," Wright said. "So sometimes it's easier just to kind of catch it as you're going back on your arm motion, and try to get it over there as quickly as possible."

It was a vindication of sorts for Wright, who bobbled Nick Markakis' first-inning single while transferring to his throwing hand, after fielding it cleanly in his glove. Then again, Wright had already made up for that -- and then some -- by homering to right-center in the bottom of the first, his first opposite-field homer since 2013.

Video: ATL@NYM: Wright belts a solo shot to open the scoring

Overall since returning from the spinal stenosis issue that sidelined him for four months earlier this season, Wright is batting .297 with three home runs and 12 walks in 103 plate appearances. He has been playing in roughly three out of every four games.

"The days that I am in there," Wright said, "I'm going to try to contribute and help this team get to the playoffs."