Fill-in manager Lasorda in midseason vocal form

VERO BEACH, Fla. – Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda returned to the Dodger dugout today. But he didn’t stay there long, charging off the bench to argue a call by plate umpire Damien Beal in the second inning of a 7-6 Grapefruit League loss to the Florida Marlins.

Never mind the fact Stevie Wonder could have seen that Beal made the right call. When the crowd reacted with boos, that was all the invitation Lasorda needed to rush the umpire, gesticulating wildly as the fans went nuts.

First base umpire Gary Cederstrom quickly came to Beal’s rescue, pointing a grinning Lasorda back to the dugout.

While Joe Torre is in China with a Dodger team composed mainly of rookies and nonroster players, Lasorda will manage the players left behind. The position is largely ceremonial, though, because bench coach Bob Schaefer and third-base coach Larry Bowa will be making most of the decisions based on Torre’s wishes.

“I want to do the things Joe wants me to do,” said Lasorda, the first Hall of Fame manager to return to the dugout after retiring. “Joe’s loaning me the team.”

But Lasorda promised that the Dodgers would play aggressively, and they did today, scoring in the first inning after a successful hit and run, then running themselves out of the third inning when Delwyn Young was caught trying to steal.

“I’m going to manage the only way I know how to manage,” Lasorda said.

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Left-hander Hong-Chi Kuo, attempting a comeback from elbow surgery, worked a perfect inning of relief, striking out Hanley Ramirez and Jeremy Hermida.

“It feels better each time,” said Kuo, who has made three scoreless appearances this spring. “I just followed [catcher Russell Martin]. He gave me the sign and I just tried to hit a spot.”

Right-hander Yhency Brazoban, also coming back from surgery, didn’t fare as well, giving up four runs on four hits in his only inning, ballooning his ERA to 15.00 in three spring outings. Starter Derek Lowe also struggled, allowing three runs in four innings. He gave five runs in the span of six outs in his last start five days earlier.

At the plate, Rafael Furcal had three hits – including a triple – scored twice and knocked in two runs

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Torre has made three previous trips to Asia, visiting the Great Wall of China on one visit. Asked which was more imposing, the Great Wall or the Green Monster – the great wall in left field at Boston’s Fenway Park – Torre answered, “depends on if you’re a pitcher or a hitter, I guess.”

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Bowa has been working with the young Dodgers on baserunning all spring, and that appeared to pay off in the fifth inning today when James Loney, in a heads-up move, advanced from second to third on a foul pop behind the plate when Marlin third baseman Jose Castillo and shortstop Ramirez left the base uncovered.

“That’s something you have to do on your own,” Loney said. “But that’s one of the things they’ve been stressing: Be aware of the situation.”

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Nomar Garciaparra tested his sore right wrist by hitting off a tee with a fungo bat and said he had little unexpected discomfort. It was the first time Garciaparra swung a bat since being hit by a pitch Friday…. Rookie infielder Tony Abreu, limited to one spring training appearance by complications stemming from off-season abdominal surgery, remains day to day. And frustration is building within the organization over his continued unavailability.

“I’m feeling better,” said Abreu, who added that he was still unsure when he would be able to play again.

kevin.baxter@latimes.com