Jordan Gives Green Some Protection

With two out in the first inning Wednesday, right fielder Shawn Green walked on four pitches. With one out in the fourth, Green walked on four pitches. With one out in the sixth, Green walked on four pitches.

It doesn’t take a Gallup Poll to detect a trend here.

The Brewers wanted no part of Green, who shredded Milwaukee for seven home runs, 11 hits, 11 runs batted in and nine runs in five previous games, and the Brewers were determined not to let Green beat them Wednesday.

So Brian Jordan did. Batting cleanup because catcher Paul Lo Duca was given the day off, Jordan followed Green’s second walk with a two-run homer to left field, his ninth homer of the season but first in Dodger Stadium since April 20. That turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead.

“To me, it’s a slap in the face,” Jordan said of the Brewers’ decision to pitch around Green so they could get to him. “I take it as a challenge. You like to come through in those situations.”

Jordan also doubled after Green’s sixth-inning walk, and the Dodgers loaded the bases on Eric Karros’ walk, but Adrian Beltre bounced into an inning-ending double play. Jordan’s sore left knee began to act up after his double, and he was replaced by Marquis Grissom.

Jordan had trouble adjusting to his new surroundings after his trade from Atlanta in January and was batting .167 (nine for 54) at home going into the Brewer series.

But he has six hits in his last 11 at-bats in Dodger Stadium and is batting .438 (14 for 32) with three doubles, a triple, three homers and 11 RBIs in his last nine games, raising his average from .256 to .291.

Lo Duca is batting .315 with 22 RBIs, and Karros, the No. 5 batter, is hitting .311 with 21 RBIs.

“It appeared they didn’t want to pitch to Green, and we may see more of that,” Manager Jim Tracy said. “If that’s the case, we’re going to need more step-up performances from guys like Jordan, Lo Duca and Karros.”

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Center fielder Dave Roberts turned in the key defensive play Wednesday, racing far into the right-center field gap to catch Eric Young’s drive with runners on first and second to end the seventh inning.... Reliever Jesse Orosco, sidelined since May 14 because of a strained ribcage muscle, was activated from the 15-day disabled list Wednesday. To make room on the roster, the Dodgers designated knuckleballer Dennis Springer for assignment. If Springer clears waivers, he will report to triple-A Las Vegas this weekend. The Dodgers decided to keep reliever Bryan Corey, who was recalled from Las Vegas on Monday, because Tracy believes the right-hander can provide the kind of long relief Springer provides, while also pitching short relief.

Mike DiGiovanna