Stults stays on routine to earn win

CINCINNATI -- Eric Stults said he did nothing different Thursday than he had the entire season.

He was aggressive. He didn’t pitch away from contact.

And in his first game of the season in the majors, Stults pitched six innings in the Dodgers’ 7-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.

“I didn’t change my approach today,” said Stults, who was recalled from triple-A Las Vegas to replace the injured Brad Penny.

Only one of the three runs charged to Stults was earned. He picked up the win and the game ball, which was handed to him by closer Takashi Saito.

Stults (1-0) had a shutout through six innings but an error by Jeff Kent on a potential double play ball complicated matters in the seventh. Stults left the game with two on and a 6-1 lead.

“If we play clean, he gets through the seventh inning, probably,” Manager Joe Torre said.

Stults also executed a hit-and-run that moved Angel Berroa to third and put him in position to score on an infield single by Juan Pierre.

Said first baseman James Loney: “I’m not even executing hit-and-runs.”

Kuroda to the DL

Hiroki Kuroda will be moved to the disabled list as expected, according to Torre. Replacing him on the active roster will be right-hander Ramon Troncoso, whom the Dodgers plan to recall today from triple-A Las Vegas.

Torre got through the game on Thursday without using middle reliever Chan Ho Park, meaning he remains on schedule to take Kuroda’s turn in the rotation Saturday. The start will be the only one missed by Kuroda, who Torre said would pitch June 28, the day he is eligible to be activated.

Park threw a bullpen session on Thursday, marking the first time he has thrown on the side since he was pounded Sunday in Detroit for a season-high five runs and eight hits in 1 1/3 innings. He was unavailable to pitch in the two games leading up to that game because of a pinch in his shoulder.

Troncoso pitched in six games in his first stint of the season with the Dodgers, posting a 9.53 earned-run average in 5 2/3 innings.

Broxton staying sharp

Saito admitted that his inactivity stemming from the lack of recent save chances made him timid on the mound, but setup man Jonathan Broxton wouldn’t touch the subject.

“I’m not talking about that,” Broxton said.

Broxton had the rare chance to pitch for the second time in a three-day span Thursday, giving up a two-out, run-scoring single to Brandon Phillips in the seventh but recording four outs.

Broxton has appeared to be less hurt than Saito by his infrequent usage. He hasn’t given up a run in his last six appearances, striking out six and walking two over six innings in that span.

Proctor has problems

Scott Proctor had another rough day out of the bullpen, as he gave up a hit, a run and a walk in one-third of an inning in the Reds’ four-run seventh.

Proctor has been charged with at least one run in six of his last nine appearances, giving up seven earned runs in 8 1/3 innings in that span. He has an ERA of 5.87.

“I think sometimes he tries to throw the ball too hard,” Torre said, noting that Proctor had that problem when he managed him in New York with the Yankees.

Short hops

Nomar Garciaparra left his minor league rehabilitation assignment in Las Vegas and traveled to Boston to visit a physical therapist he knows from his days playing with the Red Sox.

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dylan.hernandez@latimes.com