Dodgers activate Justin Turner from disabled list

Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner throws to first base to put out Cincinnati's Todd Frazier during the seventh inning of a game earlier this season at Dodger Stadium.

Columnist

July 18, 2014 5:45 PM PT

Reporting from St. Louis —

Justin Turner was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list Friday before the Dodgers opened a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Turner had been sidelined since June 29 because of a strained left hamstring.

The 29-year-old utilityman is batting .302 with three home runs and 21 runs batted in in 59 games.

Turner was particularly valuable when third baseman Juan Uribe was on the disabled list. Uribe missed 34 games starting May 21. Turner played in 28 games during that period, starting 21 times, and batted .349 with three home runs and 14 runs batted in.

The Dodgers created a place for Turner on their active roster by optioning infielder Carlos Triunfel to triple-A Albuquerque.