Miggy plays third in NL park to make room for V-Mart

PHOENIX -- Slugger Miguel Cabrera will get a small taste of the past during this week's Interleague series in Arizona.

In order to get Victor Martinez, who usually is slotted in at designated hitter, into the lineup, manager Brad Ausmus moved Cabrera to third base on Monday so Martinez could play first.

But Cabrera isn't unfamiliar with the position, as he played third during his time with the Marlins and when the Tigers had Prince Fielder.

With Fielder gone to the Rangers this season, though, Cabrera has moved to first. Entering Monday's game, Cabrera had played only two full games at third base this season -- a total of 19 1/3 innings.

D-backs manager Kirk Gibson complimented Cabrera's baseball IQ, which has helped Cabrera move around the field.

"He's got a ton of ability," Gibson said. "He's been in this game for a while, he's got a lot of experience and knowledge."

Despite all the moving around he's done in his career, Ausmus isn't concerned with Cabrera at third. He believes his star hasn't lost a step.

"We put him [at third] in Spring Training because we knew the second week of the season would be in San Diego and L.A.," Ausmus said. "He played … half the game over there, and he looked extremely natural as soon as he got there.

"He played there for years. It's a little bit like riding a bike."