Injured Atlanta Braves outfielder Matt Diaz returned to action Saturday night with Gwinnett, but his presence wasn’t enough to prevent the Columbus Clippers from coasting to an 8-2 win over the Gwinnett Braves on Saturday in Columbus, Ohio.

Diaz, who has been on the disabled list since May 15 with a right thumb infection — he had surgery May 19 — was 1-for-3 with a run scored. His rehab stint is expected to last eight games.

Before his injury, Diaz was batting .178 (13-for-73) in 26 games with Atlanta while platooning in left field with Melky Cabrera.

After Gwinnett took a 1-0 lead in the first, G-Braves starting pitcher Tim Gustafson was shelled for seven runs in the bottom-half of the inning and the Clippers never looked back.

Gwinnett returns to action against the Clippers at 5:05 today in Columbus.