Kent Diagnosed With Concussion

A CT scan on Jeff Kent’s head taken at Good Samaritan Hospital after he was hit by a pitch in the seventh inning was normal and the Dodger second baseman was diagnosed with a mild concussion and a bruise on the left side of his head.

Kent will visit an ophthalmologist today because he complained of cloudiness in his left eye.

Kent lay motionless for about 15 seconds after being hit by a pitch from San Francisco Giant right-hander Brad Hennessey. Clearly dazed, Kent sat against the bat rack when he got to the dugout, blinked hard with one eye, then the other, then walked to the clubhouse accompanied by trainer Stan Johnston.

*

A balk by Dodger starter Jae Seo helped the Giants score their runs in the sixth inning. Seo, who was effective in his six-inning start despite throwing no harder than 87 mph, gave up a leadoff double to Omar Vizquel and a single by Mark Sweeney that sent Vizquel to third, bringing up Barry Bonds.

Catcher Dioner Navarro signaled for a fastball, but Seo mistook the signal for a pickoff sign and turned to throw to first. However, first baseman James Loney was playing behind Sweeney and Seo committed a balk, which sent Vizquel home and Sweeney to second. Loney had informed Seo that he would not be holding Sweeney close.

“I feel bad because I let down my teammates,” Seo said.

Sweeney scored on a single by Ray Durham.

*

Ask Eric Gagne how his problematic right elbow is feeling and all he can do is shrug and make a comparison to which nearly anyone can relate.

“It feels like your mouth after you go to the dentist,” he said. “It’s totally numb.”

Doctors removed a sensory nerve a week ago that had been irritating the elbow during spring training. Gagne says he plans to begin playing catch in three to four weeks and could return to action in eight weeks or less.

For now, it is enough getting used to having no feeling under the skin from the middle of his forearm to the back of the elbow.

“I have feeling inside when you put pressure on it,” he said. “They say it’s permanent. But if I can pitch pain-free, it’s no problem.”

Gagne complained of discomfort during spring training but thought it was the result of scar tissue from surgery last June. Until just before the season started, he didn’t consider it serious enough to sideline him.

*

Manager Grady Little anointed Takashi Saito the setup reliever after his work in the eighth inning Saturday.... First baseman Nomar Garciaparra, recovering from a strained rib-cage muscle, is expected to come off the disabled list by the end of the week. He is scheduled to take batting and fielding practice today.