Beltre Is Cleaning Up Wherever He Bats

Third baseman Adrian Beltre ranks among the major league leaders with a .389 batting average, nine home runs and 25 runs batted in while primarily batting seventh.

Beltre, who batted fifth for the sixth time Thursday, capped an outstanding series against the Florida Marlins with three more hits in a 9-4 victory. The right-handed batter went seven for 13 in the series, getting six hits to right field.

Given Beltre’s production since spring training, would the batting order be better with him as the everyday cleanup hitter?

“I’m not going to touch that one,” said Beltre, who then laughed and smiled. “Really, that’s not my decision. I think it would be better to hit higher in some kind of situations, but it’s something I have no control over.”

Beltre expressed frustration on opening day after Manager Jim Tracy informed him he would be batting seventh, not third as he expected after hitting .305 with three homers and 13 RBIs during Grapefruit League play.

But Beltre said things have changed.

“I’m fine where I’m at, I’m swinging the bat good and I have no problems,” he said. “I just want to keep my same swing, my same approach and, hopefully, keep getting the same results.

“I’m here for the team, and I’m just glad to be playing third every day for this team. Whatever they feel is best for the team, that’s what I’ll do.”

Tracy said he’s not opposed to making a major lineup move with Beltre.

“If someone is struggling badly, and we start to sense the fact that Adrian Beltre is starting to be passed on ... we will look closely at that situation,” Tracy said. “Especially with the way he’s swinging the bat, but I don’t see a lot of that right now.”

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Left fielder and leadoff batter Dave Roberts (strained right hamstring) sat out his second consecutive game but expects to return to the lineup tonight.

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Reserve outfielder Jayson Werth (strained abdominal muscle) left the team to continue his rehabilitation at Class-A Vero Beach. The team has not determined when Werth would begin a rehabilitation assignment.

ON DECK

Opponent -- Pittsburgh Pirates, three games.

Site -- PNC Park.

TV -- FSN2 tonight and Sunday; Ch. 13 Saturday.

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

Records -- Dodgers 17-10, Pirates 12-14.

2003 record vs. Pirates -- 5-1.

Tonight, 4 -- Wilson Alvarez (0-0, 2.16) vs. Oliver Perez (2-0, 3.16).

Saturday, 4 p.m. -- Hideo Nomo (3-3, 6.27) vs. Ryan Vogelsong (1-3, 7.56).

Sunday, 10:30 a.m. -- Odalis Perez (2-1, 3.82) vs. Josh Fogg (0-3, 10.69).

Tickets -- (323) 224-1448.