Kent has last out, last word

Jeff Kent had made the last out of the game moments earlier with the tying runs on base, ending an 0-for-5 day. So perhaps he could be excused for his flip answer to a question he has been asked so many times that he has lost count.

A radio reporter thrust his microphone near Kent’s mouth Sunday, reminded him the Dodgers face the San Francisco Giants in a series beginning today, and said, “Do you appreciate the history of this rivalry and get pumped up?”

Kent, a member of the Giants from 1997 to 2002, broke into his trademark sly grin.

“I was asked the same question for six years with the Giants, and now I’ve been asked the same question for three years with the Dodgers,” he said.

“Big ... deal. How about that one? Can you quote that one?”

Then, just as he seemed to reconsider and give a more thoughtful answer, he dropped another profanity-laced punch line.

“The only sound bite I can give you is that both teams know the fans come out and have a really good time with the rivalry,” he said.

“A lot of players on both teams have changed sides, but that doesn’t deflect from the rivalry, it adds to the, what’s the word, peace we have as players, to not get so wound up in this ‘give us a good quote about the series’ [garbage].”

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Johnny Garcia, the batboy who suffered a fractured cheekbone when a foul ball caromed off the wall in foul territory during the last homestand, is back at work and plans to return to his post along the right-field line tonight.... The Dodgers were the only team to have five position players in the starting lineup batting .300 or better Sunday. In addition, Nomar Garciaparra had a pinch-hit single to raise his average to .300.... Mark Hendrickson will start Friday, pushing back Brett Tomko’s next start by one day.

steve.henson@latimes.com