Cora Powers Dodgers

Perhaps he was emboldened by the 68 runs the Dodgers scored while pounding 115 hits, including 24 home runs, in their previous nine games, or maybe he just had a hunch, but Manager Jim Tracy stuck that little-ball approach in his back pocket Wednesday afternoon and decided to think big for a change.

After showing bunt on the first pitch with a runner on first in the seventh inning of a tie game, reserve infielder Alex Cora lined a hit-and-run fastball over the wall in right field for his first home run of the season, a two-run shot that helped catapult the Dodgers to a 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers before 26,399 in Dodger Stadium.

Cora’s blast--his first home run since last June 13--was his second hit of the game and one of only four Dodger hits on the afternoon. Brian Jordan had the other two hits, including a two-run homer in the fourth, and that was enough to cap a three-game sweep of the hapless Brewers on a day the Dodgers were outhit, 13-4.

Dodger starter Odalis Perez (5-3) gave up only two runs despite giving up 10 hits in seven innings for the win, and closer Eric Gagne survived a turbulent ninth, giving up a home run to Jose Hernandez before striking out Eric Young on three straight 96-mph fastballs with runners on second and third for his major league-leading 18th save.

But the Dodgers wouldn’t have won for the sixth time in eight games had they not received a power boost from a most unexpected source.

“Give a lot of credit to that kid,” Tracy said of Cora, who lost his starting shortstop job to Cesar Izturis in spring training.

“You look at his circumstances and the way he’s handled himself from day one of the season, and you have to give kudos to him, because every role I’ve given him, he’s done.”

Cora has made the most of his limited opportunities; he leads the Dodgers with five pinch hits, including a key RBI single in a two-run ninth inning Sunday in Arizona, when the Dodgers tied a game they eventually lost, 10-9, in 10 innings.

Cora has only 48 at-bats but has 15 hits--three of them triples--for a .313 average. With second baseman Mark Grudzielanek slowed by a sore left big toe, Cora made his eighth start of the season Wednesday.

“We get here early, run, hit and take extra ground balls because you never know when you’re going to start,” Cora said of his transition to a reserve role. “If someone goes down, you have to be ready. You always want to play every day, but that situation didn’t happen for me this year. Instead of looking at it as a negative, it’s been a great learning experience. You just have to go out and perform.”

That, Cora did, especially after Chad Kreuter drew a leadoff walk from Milwaukee starter Jamey Wright in the seventh inning of a 2-2 game. Cora squared to bunt on Wright’s first pitch but took it for a ball.

Tracy then morphed into Earl Weaver, scrapping the bunt. Cora turned on an inside fastball and belted it for his homer.

“I don’t think [Wright] wanted to go 2-and-0 on Cora, and I had a lot of confidence that he would put the ball in play and get the runner to second base, but I didn’t expect a home run,” Tracy said.

“I was hoping for a grounder to the right side, runners on first and third and no outs. But I’ve always said we want the hit-and-run to be an offensive weapon. We don’t want guys to temper their swing.”

Dodger reliever Paul Quantrill retired the side in order in the eighth, but Gagne’s first pitch of the ninth was plastered by Hernandez, who sent it over the wall in center for his 10th homer of the season, trimming the Dodger lead to 4-3.

Ronnie Belliard flied to center and pinch-hitter Lenny Harris struck out, but pinch-hitter Tyler Houston singled to left.

Pinch-hitter Geoff Jenkins hit a slow roller to the mound, but the ball handcuffed Gagne, who missed it.

Cora charged and made a nice bare-hand grab, but his off-balance throw sailed past first for an error, allowing the runners to advance to second and third. The play--and the situation--seemed to ignite Gagne, who blew three straight fastballs by Young to end the game.

“I got a little [ticked] off,” Gagne said. “These guys played a great game, they had a chance to sweep the series, and I didn’t want to mess it up. I decided I had to get aggressive with the last couple of hitters.”

Kind of like his manager.