On the Seventh Day, Tracy Switched

In addressing his decision to leave Shawn Green and Fred McGriff, who bat left-handed, in the three-four spots of the order, Manager Jim Tracy said Saturday that he “really liked the lineup the way it is structured, and I don’t want to start rearranging it on the sixth day of the season.”

So, he waited until the seventh day. With McGriff pressing to the tune of a .136 average and Brian Jordan hitting .304 with three home runs and five runs batted in, Tracy moved the right-handed Jordan into the cleanup spot and dropped McGriff into the fifth spot for Sunday’s game against the Padres.

“I wanted to take a little [pressure] off Fred and give him an opportunity to sort things out,” Tracy said. “It’s also a recognition of the fact that Brian Jordan is swinging the bat as consistently as anyone on the club.”

The move paid off in the second inning Sunday, as Jordan and McGriff each singled to ignite a three-run rally, and Tracy hopes the switch will leave the Dodgers less vulnerable to left-handed relief pitching late in the game.

“The lineup is balanced even more, with left-right-left-right in the middle,” Tracy said. “You have to ask yourself, what do they have on the other side of the field that would make you hedge your decision [to bat McGriff behind Green]?”

Tracy didn’t say how long he’d go with the Green-Jordan-McGriff alignment, but an injury could force him to alter plans for today’s home opener against Arizona. Jordan was hit by a pitch on the left hand in the 11th inning Sunday, and while he said he didn’t believe he broke any bones, he will go for X-rays today.

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Tracy praised the bullpen after Sunday’s game, and rightfully so -- left-hander Tom Martin struck out Sean Burroughs and Ryan Klesko with fastballs to end the ninth, and Eric Gagne and Guillermo Mota each sparkled during scoreless two-inning stints.

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Steve Garvey, Bill Russell and Ron Cey will throw out ceremonial first pitches before today’s home opener in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the year they -- along with current Padre coach Davey Lopes -- started their record-setting eight-plus seasons run as the Dodger infield.

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ON DECK

Opponent -- Arizona Diamondbacks, three games.

Site -- Dodger Stadium.

Today -- 1 p.m.

TV -- Fox Sports Net 2, all three games.

Radio -- KFWB (980), KWKW (1330).

Records -- Dodgers 3-4, Diamondbacks 1-5.

Record vs. Diamondbacks -- 2-1.

Tuesday, 7 p.m. -- Kazuhisa Ishii (0-1, 12.27) vs. Oscar Villarreal (0-0, 0.00).

Wednesday, 1 p.m. -- Darren Dreifort (0-1, 4.50) vs. Byung-Hyun Kim (0-1, 3.60).

Tickets -- (323) 224-1448.