Roster moves make room for Solano at second

DENVER -- When the Marlins sent second baseman Derek Dietrich to Double-A Jacksonville on Monday night, it opened the door for Donovan Solano to shine.

In his second Major League season, Solano got the start at second base Tuesday night and manager Mike Redmond said he will rotate between second and third in the Marlins' new-look lineup.

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"He's going to get an opportunity to get extended playing time," Redmond said. "He's going to play second, probably play some third. We'll probably mix and match him and [Ed] Lucas on third and second. It's good to have that versatility, with Lucas being able to pay all those positions."

Lucas has primarily been a third baseman, making his 26th start there Tuesday night, and has eight starts at second.

Solano missed nearly all of May and June with a left side injury after hitting .263 with 25 hits in the season's opening month. Since returning on July 2, he has primarily been used as a pinch-hitter, but Redmond said he hopes to use the 25-year-old more consistently as a piece of his lineup.

"He needs to play and get extended at-bats," Redmond said. "When he went out and he went on the DL, he was probably our hottest hitter and we really haven't had a chance to get him back in the lineup and get him going. So hopefully he can get himself going and help to contribute to the club."