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Dodgers’ James Loney thrives against Diamondbacks

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Dodgers first baseman James Loney has found Arizona Diamondbacks pitching much to his liking.

In six games against the Diamondbacks this season, Loney has 14 hits in 29 at-bats.

He had seven hits in the just-concluded three-game sweep, including a home run and two doubles, and is batting. 324.

“I’m just working on it, getting comfortable, staying confident and taking it one day at a time,” Loney said, adding that playing at home or away made no difference in how he felt at the plate.

In his third full season with the Dodgers, the 26-year-old Texan said he hasn’t made any major changes to his swing, but has been “not over-analyzing every little thing.”

“It’s kind of just trusting the work you’ve put in,” he said. “You just go out there, see the ball and react to it.

“I’m just trying to drive the ball and I feel like I’m driving the ball better. That’s just from squaring up the ball [against the bat] better, too. Plus there are the workouts you put in, getting stronger. I think it’s a combination of things.”

In 2009, Loney batted .281 with 13 home runs and 162 hits. He had 90 runs batted in, matching his 2008 total.

Loney continues to be on a “steady climb” at the plate, Manager Joe Torre said.

“He’s going to continue to get better. He’s going to hit 20 [home runs], not necessarily this year, but he’s going to be a guy who’s going to be very productive,” Torre said.

Padilla’s progress

Right-handed pitcher Vicente Padilla, sidelined because of a sore nerve in his throwing arm, continues to throw lightly after having another MRI exam that was “totally normal,” Dodgers trainer Stan Conte said.

Put on the disabled list April 23 after being the Dodgers’ opening-day starter, Padilla “has been throwing without any problems for about 10 days,” Conte said. “The nerve has completely calmed down at this point.”

Padilla began light tosses three days ago, “very simple stuff,” Conte said. “We’re just starting off to see how the nerve tolerates his beginning of throwing. It will be a slow progression.”

Torre had said Padilla wouldn’t return until June and Wednesday said “he’s a month away, probably.”

Short hops

Ramon Ortiz remained the Dodgers’ scheduled starter for Friday’s game against the Padres in San Diego despite throwing to one batter in relief in the Dodgers’ 13-3 win over the Diamondbacks on Tuesday night, Torre said.

“We were hoping he’d be able to get that out for us and it worked out fine,” Torre said. “He’s pretty durable; that little bit last night isn’t going to bother him.”

And after ESPN.com briefly mentioned that the Dodgers were making calls this week to unidentified clubs for added starting pitching, General Manager Ned Colletti responded, “This week? I’ve been asking around for months.”

That is the ordinary course of business and “we’re not close to anybody or making any deals,” Colletti said. “It’s just due diligence.”

Asked whether the Dodgers’ search was focused more on a right-hander or a left-hander, Colletti replied, “No.”

james.peltz@latimes.com

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