Uribe taking bases at torrid pace

LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers third baseman Juan Uribe entered Wednesday's game having drawn nearly as many walks as he did all of last season.

In 16 games, Uribe had 11 walks in 43 plate appearances and was reaching base at a .419 clip. The veteran had 13 walks in 66 games with the Dodgers last year, and 17 walks in 77 games in 2011 during his first season with the club.

Uribe has never drawn more than 45 walks in a season, but he is on pace to break that mark this year.

Has Uribe's sudden increase in walks surprised manager Don Mattingly?

"A little bit," Mattingly said before Wednesday's game against the Rockies. "It allows me really to be able to hit him back there in the eight hole."

Uribe is hitting .219 with two homers and four RBIs. But he has shown more patience at the plate and seen more time lately at third base. Uribe has started six of the last seven games at third.

"He's been swinging the bat good, too," Mattingly said. "His at-bats are good."