Veteran Presents From Kent

It was only 12 days ago that the 2006 Dodgers seemed destined to be remembered more for penance than any possible shot at a pennant.

They appeared to be too old and composed of too many unreliable parts prone to breaking down, sins of a front office that had seemingly tried to piece together a winner with a roster full of retreads.

When veterans Jeff Kent and Nomar Garciaparra went on the disabled list last month -- each for the second time this season -- the Dodgers were in the midst of a stretch of 13 losses in 14 games.

Then the Dodgers turned it around to win nine consecutive games with the aging infielders still sidelined -- suggesting that their replacements were more than adequate.

Of course, Kent fully intends to log a few more miles on his journey toward Cooperstown, and the 38-year-old infielder provided a vivid reminder of his value Monday night at Dodger Stadium during the Dodgers’ 7-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

Activated off the disabled list following an 18-game absence caused by a strained muscle in his side, Kent homered, doubled and drove in three runs as the Dodgers stretched their season-high winning streak to 10 games while opening a 10-game homestand in promising fashion.

“I’ve been playing this game a long time. It’s kind of natural,” said Kent, who acknowledged that his side was still bothering him. “We’ll see what tomorrow brings.”

Brad Penny pitched eight strong innings and J.D. Drew drove in two runs to help the Dodgers move to within 1 1/2 games of the idle San Diego Padres in the National League West and pull even with the Cincinnati Reds in the wild-card race.

Already 8-2 against the Rockies this season and undefeated against their division rival in four games at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers will attempt to continue their mastery of Colorado tonight behind 40-year-old pitcher Greg Maddux, with 33-year-old Garciaparra expected to return Wednesday from a sprained right knee.

Kent subbed for Garciaparra at first base Monday, the first time the veteran second baseman had played first since September, and acquitted himself well in the field. .

The Dodgers missed Kent more for his bat than his glove, and he didn’t wait long to make an impact at the plate. With Kenny Lofton on third base following his one-out triple in the first inning, Kent smacked a double into the left-field corner to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.

“I’m glad to have him back,” Penny said of Kent. “You know he’s going to produce.”

After Penny had helped himself in the second inning with a run-scoring double to left, Kent stepped to the plate in the third following Drew’s leadoff walk. Kent sent the first pitch he saw from Rockies pitcher Josh Fogg (7-7) over the center-field fence for a two-run homer that gave the Dodgers a 4-0 cushion.

That was more than enough run support for Penny (12-5), whose only blemishes were solo homers by Garrett Atkins in the fourth and Brad Hawpe in the eighth. In becoming the seventh consecutive Dodgers starter to record a victory, Penny gave up five hits and two runs, struck out four and walked none. The right-hander is 4-0 with a 0.99 earned-run average against the Rockies this season.

“They are aggressive hitters, and they swing early in the count,” Penny said. “Fortunately I got a lot of early outs.”

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Streaking

The Dodgers won their 10th consecutive game Monday, matching the fourth-longest winning streak in Los Angeles Dodgers history. The franchise record is 15 set in 1924.

*--* Wins Year Dates 13 1965 Sept. 16-30 13 1962 May 21-June 1 12 1976 April 24-May 5 11 1993 May 17-29 10 2006 July 28-Aug. 7 10 2003 May 14-25 10 1980 April 20-30

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Source: Dodgers