Timely bounce sparks Dodgers

The biggest sequence in the latest Dodgers’ outburst was triggered by the smallest of hits, an eighth-inning flare just past second base by Juan Pierre that normally would have amounted to a routine out.

But with runners on second and third and nobody out, the Cincinnati Reds brought in their infield in an effort to preserve a tie. Pierre’s hit split the middle infielders and keyed a five-run rally that propelled the Dodgers to a 10-5 comeback victory Sunday at Dodger Stadium.

All without leaving the infield.

“It definitely made a difference,” Pierre said of the infield playing in. “They would probably catch it or the [runners] would have to hold up and nobody scores.”

Instead, the Dodgers took the lead and then padded it with a run-scoring single by Nomar Garciaparra, a bases-loaded walk by pinch-hitter Ramon Martinez and a two-run single by Andre Ethier, the last of the Dodgers’ season-high 18 hits.

Just like that, a Dodgers offense that had struggled for most of the season has sprung to life with 17 runs and 28 hits in two games to help complete a three-game sweep of the Reds.

“You mean the same offense that was terrible about a week ago, right?” said Luis Gonzalez, who had two hits. “That’s the way baseball is, isn’t it?”

The Dodgers (23-15) moved to eight games over .500, and their three-game lead over second-place San Diego in the National League West is their largest of the season.

There was plenty of praise to go around on a day most of the Dodgers swung pink bats to help raise awareness for breast cancer.

Six players had multiple hits, including Rafael Furcal, who was four for four with two doubles. The bullpen contributed 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, with Chad Billingsley wriggling his way out of a bases-loaded, two-out jam in the sixth inning.

And then there was Ken Griffey Jr., whom Jeff Kent credited with an early-afternoon wake-up call. Griffey’s three-run homer off a high Mark Hendrickson fastball moved Griffey into sole possession of ninth place on the all-time home run list with 570, capped a four-run fourth inning and gave the Reds a 5-3 lead.

“I think Griffey woke us up to the reality that we needed to score some runs if we were going to win today,” Kent said. “We knew we had to pick up the pace if we wanted to win.”

Kent did his part in the fifth inning, hitting a homer to left-center field to pull the Dodgers to within a run. The Dodgers then tied the score in the sixth without the benefit of a hard-hit ball.

Andy LaRoche flared a single to right-center field, moved up a base on a wild pitch and went to third on Furcal’s slow chopper behind the mound that went for a single.

Furcal stole second, and the throw from catcher David Ross rolled away from shortstop Alex Gonzalez, allowing LaRoche to trot home with the tying run.

LaRoche also got things started for the Dodgers in the eighth inning when he singled to left field and went to third base on Furcal’s single past diving first baseman Jeff Conine. Furcal then stole second base to set the stage for Pierre’s pivotal at-bat.

The Dodgers had such success with the pink bats -- you could say they were hot pink -- that several players were hoping they became commonplace around the league.

“You know how superstitious baseball players are,” Pierre said. “You might have a couple of pink bats try to sneak in the game [today] too.”

ben.bolch@latimes.com