Furcal’s sore ankle isn’t healed

Rafael Furcal prides himself on playing when he’s tired or sore. About now, he’s just tired of being sore.

The Dodgers shortstop has missed an average of only nine games each of the last five seasons. He’s at eight games and counting this year because of a sprained left ankle that has taken longer than expected to heal.

Furcal made an early exit from Wednesday night’s minor league game with the Inland Empire 66ers when he felt tightness in the ankle, leaving in the sixth inning after running from first to third. The game -- his second with the 66ers -- was supposed to be his last tuneup before being activated for tonight’s game against the San Diego Padres.

Furcal reported no pain or swelling, but the tightness might prompt the Dodgers to err on the side of caution with their valuable leadoff hitter. He hasn’t had any problems during his minor league at-bats, but the ankle bothered him on defense.

He was one for two with a stolen base after finishing 0 for 4 a day earlier.

*

Matt Kemp had crashed into the right-field wall and was writhing in pain on the warning track by the time any fans wearing radio headsets at Monday’s home opener at Dodger Stadium heard Vin Scully call the play. Fans listening to play-by-play on AM 980 were dismayed to learn that the broadcast was delayed by as many as 10 seconds.

The delay was reduced to about 3 1/2 seconds by the second home game, said station producer Josh Cumming, but that might be as good as it gets. The broadcasts cannot be carried in real time because of a CBS Radio policy in conjunction with Federal Communications Commission rules on indecency after the Janet Jackson incident during the 2004 Super Bowl. Last season, the delay was even longer.

“They’re afraid of profanity from the crowd and something slipping by, and that’s just kind of the decision that CBS and the FCC have made for live sporting events on their stations,” Cumming said. “It really only affects the people who are here, because if you’re not here you would never know.

“We’re trying to come up with ideas about piping it through the house before a delay, but that’s a work in progress.”

*

If performance dictates playing time, as Manager Grady Little likes to say, then Wilson Betemit hasn’t earned much, at least with his bat.

The third baseman is batting .053 after recording only one hit in his first 19 at-bats, with six walks and five strikeouts.

“He’s just struggling to get a hit,” Little said. “The guy’s playing awfully good defensively for us, but he’s just one of the guys we’ve got in that lineup -- he’s not the only one -- who has gotten off to a slow start.

“We can’t start judging people on such a few number of games. He’s got plenty of time to get it going, and I’m sure he will.”

*

Reliever Jonathan Broxton has not given up a run in 11 consecutive appearances spanning 11 1/3 innings since Sept. 20.... San Diego Padres outfielder Mike Cameron will wear No. 42 on Sunday as a tribute to Jackie Robinson on the 60th anniversary of his major league debut. Every Dodgers player and coach will wear the number.... Jennifer Hudson, who won an Oscar for her role in “Dreamgirls,” will sing the national anthem.

steve.henson@latimes.com

ben.bolch@latimes.com