Tomko receives bench support

They’re an eclectic group, the Dodgers substitutes, including two Dominicans, a Panamanian and a Puerto Rican born in Philadelphia. But because they’re quiet and some of them play only slightly more often than the coaching staff, they haven’t earned a catchy nickname like the second-stringers on other teams.

“They don’t really have a name,” third base coach Rich Donnelly said. “They’re just bench guys.”

On Wednesday, however, the stand-ins stood up, with Wilson Valdez, Olmedo Saenz and Brady Clark combining for five hits, three runs and two runs batted in to carry hard-luck pitcher Brett Tomko to his first win this season, a 5-3 victory over the Florida Marlins that doubled the Dodgers’ lead in the National League West.

“When we get our chance to play, we have to give the best we can,” said Valdez, who had two bunt singles, scored one run on a squeeze and drove in another. “We don’t get that many opportunities. When we have our opportunities we have to help ... the team keep on winning.”

Or in Tomko’s case, start winning.

The right-hander has pitched well this season, holding opponents to three or fewer earned runs in four of his first five starts. But all he had to show for it was three losses, not that any of that was his fault.

“He’s pitching good enough to win some games,” Manager Grady Little said. “There are other reasons that come about that have held him back from getting a win. Sometimes it’s a matter of runs we score.”

Indeed, Tomko has been getting only two runs of support a game, so the Dodgers turned their offense over to Little ball Wednesday with the manager urging a patient approach against starter Dontrelle Willis (5-2). And that paid off in the first inning when the Dodgers drew three consecutive two-out walks to force in a run.

Then in the fourth, Little put on the squeeze with Valdez at third base and Tomko at the plate to push home another run.

“We’re just trying to get a run without Tomko getting hurt too bad,” Little said. “He got the bunt down perfectly. Heck, runs are big. Any time you can get them.”

Rafael Furcal produced another run when he followed with a two-out double to right field to drive in Clark. Saenz homered with two outs in the fifth inning to make it 4-0, and that appeared to be plenty.

Especially with Tomko needing only 60 pitches to cruise through the first five innings, taking a no-hitter into the sixth.

“You know what’s going on in the game. But I was worried about it,” Tomko said of the no-hitter, which disappeared when Hanley Ramirez fisted a ball just past the mound for an infield single with one out, bringing Little to the mound.

“He’s always pretty witty when he comes out there,” Tomko said. “He just said ‘Hey, that was a good run. But let’s turn the page ... and get this next guy out.’ ”

Dan Uggla and Miguel Cabrera followed with singles, ending the shutout, then the Marlins ended Tomko’s night in the seventh inning when they got two runs on a homer by pinch-hitter Mike Jacobs.

But Jonathan Broxton came on to get the next four outs. And after Valdez bunted home an insurance run in the ninth, Takashi Saito closed out the bottom of the inning to earn his 10th save in as many tries.

“It’s not fun to be on the other end of it,” said Tomko (1-3), who hadn’t won since August. “I feel like I’ve been throwing the ball decent this season. It’s nice to get that first [win] on the board.”

kevin.baxter@latimes.com