Full speed ahead for Furcal

Baby steps became Godzilla-like strides the moment Rafael Furcal put on his Dodgers uniform for the first time since spring training.

The sprained left ankle that prevented him from playing in nine games was tested in the second inning when he ranged to his right for a ground ball, planted his feet and made a strong throw.

Then Furcal really gained traction, stomping all over the San Diego Padres in a 9-1 victory Friday night at Dodger Stadium.

In the third inning, he dived to his left, scrambled to his feet and threw out lumbering 43-year-old pitcher David Wells.

In the fourth, Furcal dashed to his right to start a 6-4-3 double play with the bases loaded and none out, then made a tough play on a chopper by Kevin Kouzmanoff to end the inning, helping Derek Lowe navigate through his only rough patch in an eight-inning, seven-hit performance.

In the bottom of the fourth, Furcal doubled to right-center against reliever Mike Thompson and scored with a slide at the plate on Nomar Garciaparra’s two-run single. The four runs against Thompson were the first against the Padres bullpen all season, ending the scoreless streak at 29 1/3 innings.

In the fifth, Furcal doubled to left-center, driving in Russell Martin and Brady Clark with two out to extend the lead to 9-1.

Not a bad debut two days after he left a minor league rehabilitation game in the sixth inning because the ankle had tightened. But the off day Thursday was all Furcal needed.

“I didn’t want to take a chance, so I came out,” he said. “We had a day off and that helped me a lot.”

It’s full speed ahead now. He even remained in the lineup when the outcome was clear in the seventh and the Dodgers (7-3) gave Jeff Kent and Luis Gonzalez the rest of the night off.

“I’m here to play every day,” Furcal said. “I don’t think I need a day off.”

He had plenty of help in gaining a foothold on an opponent that defeated the Dodgers 13 times in 18 games last season. Gonzalez, who entered with a .400 batting average against Wells, homered for the first run in the second inning and drove in another run with a single in the third.

Clark, the right fielder, doubled, singled, drove in two runs and scored two in his first Dodgers start. And every starter except Juan Pierre had at least one hit, even Lowe, who beat out a roller, walked twice, sacrificed and scored.

Despite the baserunning, Lowe (2-1) breezed along. He struck out six and walked two, throwing 71 strikes in 108 pitches. It marked the 14th time in 72 starts as a Dodger that he has pitched eight or more innings.

“When you get a lead like that, it’s important for a starter to give the bullpen a day off,” Lowe said.

Rudy Seanez pitched the ninth, a reminder of the last time the Padres visited Dodger Stadium.

This time the result wasn’t as dramatic as that historic September game when the Dodgers hit four consecutive home runs in the ninth to tie the score and Garciaparra won it with a homer in the 10th against Seanez, who was a Padre.

But it would do.

“It’s a totally different year with two different teams,” Manager Grady Little said.

And the Dodgers are a much-improved team with Furcal batting leadoff and playing shortstop. There will be no more nightmares about the play in Vero Beach, Fla., when Furcal collided with center fielder Jason Repko chasing a short fly ball and came away with swollen ankle.

“He changes the whole look of our lineup,” Gonzalez said. “He creates a nuisance for the opposing defense and he brings a lot of energy. It’s fun to have him back.”

steve.henson@latimes.com