Phillies Notes | Victorino again out of starting lineup

ATLANTA -

Shane Victorino

was not in the Phillies' starting lineup last night for the second game in a row. He was not thrilled by the development.

"I was shocked to see it," Victorino said. "You just have to deal with it."

With lefthander Chuck James pitching for Atlanta, manager Charlie Manuel used righthanded-hitting Jayson Werth in right field.

Victorino, a switch hitter, has struggled against lefties. Entering last night, he was hitting just .219 (7 for 32) with a .286 on-base percentage against them.

Werth also started in place of Victorino against lefthander Mark Redman on Tuesday night. He had a hit and a walk and scored two runs.

"Werth needs to play some," Manuel said. "If he's going to help us, he needs at-bats.

"Competition never hurt anyone. If you're worried about competition, you're in the wrong game. That's how Victorino won his position. He got hits off the bench last year and came on strong after the [Bobby Abreu] trade and when [Aaron] Rowand got hurt."

Victorino entered the game as part of a double switch in the sixth. He threw out Jarrod Saltalamacchia at the plate on a perfect throw to Rod Barajas.

Manuel said Victorino would return to the lineup in San Francisco, where the Phils open a four-game series tonight.

Victorino hopes he's not on the verge of being part of a right-field platoon. Manuel isn't planning a platoon, but he would like to see what Werth can do after missing last season with an injured wrist.

Victorino had started 23 of the first 25 games before Tuesday.

"I want to play every day," he said. "Everyone questions if I can play every day. I want to prove it."

Victorino may not get that chance.

"I understand he wants to play. That's good," Manuel said. "I see him as a 450-to-500-at-bat guy instead of the 700 that some guys at the top of the order get. That will make his season stronger. He's a Kenny Lofton type. Mentally, he gets worn down some."

Extra bases. The Braves put catcher Brayan Peña on the disabled list with a concussion suffered Tuesday night. Peña was hit on the top of his catcher's helmet by pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs as he followed through on his swing. The Braves also put Redman on the DL with a foot problem one day after he was shelled by the Phillies. Pitcher Kevin Barry and Saltalamacchia were recalled from the minors. The highly touted Saltalamacchia made his big-league debut on his 22d birthday. He has the longest last name in big-league history.

-Jim Salisbury