Beltre’s Bat Makes Noise

Maybe it was part of Manager Jim Tracy’s plan to motivate Adrian Beltre to finally become all he could be for the Dodgers.

Or maybe not.

Regardless of Tracy’s intentions, the Dodgers hope Beltre plays with a chip on his shoulder all season after the third baseman had a big role Tuesday night in helping them rally for a 5-4 victory over the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium.

Beltre repeatedly delivered before 26,437, after criticizing Tracy on opening day for not informing him further in advance about being dropped from third to seventh in the batting order. He hit a tying, two-run home run in the seventh inning -- his first of the season and 100th of his career -- and singled and scored the winning run in the ninth on Robin Ventura’s pinch-hit single.

Talk about a timely boost.

“It was perfect timing and it came in a situation where we needed it,” said Beltre, who had three hits and scored two runs.

“It means a lot and it gives us confidence we can come from behind.”

Beltre acknowledged his confidence was low after Tracy informed him of his demotion in the batting order only hours before Monday’s opener, but he responded with two hits in an 8-2 loss and returned even stronger Tuesday.

Beltre singled to left against loser Akinori Otsuka after Juan Encarnacion struck out to start the ninth. He wound up at third on Padre third baseman Sean Burroughs’ error on Alex Cora’s sacrifice bunt down the third-base line, and completed the Dodgers’ comeback from an early 4-0 deficit when Ventura singled through the hole at second.

Not surprisingly, Beltre’s mood was improved.

“I’m just happy to play third every day,” said Beltre, coming off his best overall spring training. “I hope to hit well wherever I hit. I’ll try to be the best No. 7 hitter in the league.

“I play for my teammates because they support me. I’m just going to go out and try to do my best.”

Milton Bradley displaced Beltre from Beltre’s favorite spot in the batting order, and Bradley is living up to advance billing. After reaching base safely four times Monday with two hits and two walks, Bradley had a run-scoring single, doubled and showcased his defensive skills with a sensational running catch in straightaway center in the ninth to rob Ramon Hernandez of extra bases.

Tracy summoned All-Star closer Eric Gagne -- the 2003 National League Cy Young Award winner -- to keep the Dodgers even in the ninth. The right-hander got through the inning, with Bradley’s help, and earned the Dodgers’ first victory of the season despite hitting a batter with a pitch.

Former Dodger Antonio Osuna failed to preserve a 4-2 lead in the seventh, giving up Beltre’s tying two-run homer.

Paul Lo Duca shot a leadoff single through the hole on the right side and Encarnacion popped up to short. Osuna fell behind Beltre, 3-and-1, and Beltre seized an opportunity, sending the ball over the wall in left.

Hernandez gave the Padres a 3-0 lead in the second with a three-run homer against Dodger starter Odalis Perez, who gave up 10 hits and four earned runs in 5 2/3 innings. The Padres extended the lead to 4-0 in the third on Phil Nevin’s run-scoring double, but the Dodgers scored twice in the sixth on a balk by Padre starter Jake Peavy and Bradley’s RBI single.

The Padres loaded the bases in the third and were poised to deliver a knockout blow to Perez, but inexperienced first baseman Shawn Green made a nifty play to help keep the Dodgers and their struggling starter in the game.

Mark Loretta doubled to start the inning and scored on Nevin’s one-out double, providing Peavy with a four-run cushion. Jay Payton walked and Hernandez singled to load the bases as Khalil Greene came to the plate.

Greene drove the ball down the first-base line to Green, who made a diving stop and then went to the bag to end the inning.

“The Dodgers battled back,” Padre Manager Bruce Bochy said. “We made a couple of mistakes and had opportunities to blow it open.”