Loaiza adjusts to schedule

Esteban Loaiza said he was overcome by a strange feeling Sunday while watching the Dodgers lose to the San Francisco Giants.

“It seems like I haven’t pitched in a month,” he said.

Today, the Dodgers’ latest acquisition will take the mound on seven days’ rest to face the San Diego Padres in the first game of what could be a make-or-break, six-game homestand.

Loaiza’s latest start was pushed back by the suspension of David Wells, the resulting need for a spot start by Eric Stults, Wells’ re-insertion into the rotation and Manager Grady Little’s wish to keep Brad Penny on his regular schedule.

The season has been an odd one for Loaiza, who didn’t make his season debut with the Oakland Athletics until Aug. 22 because of a bulging disk in his neck and a knee operation.

He pitched well in his two games for Oakland, giving up three runs in 14 2/3 innings. He was picked up by the Dodgers off waivers, his first start for them coming a week after his last one for the Athletics.

The infrequent and irregular activity hasn’t hurt Loaiza so far, as he is 2-0 with a 2.49 earned-run average.

“I really have to do what they tell me to do,” Loaiza said. “It’s the end of the season in a pennant race. I’m new to the team and it’s the manager’s and the coaching staff’s decision what to do with me. I have to be ready. That’s all I can do.”

Nomar Garciaparra batted eighth Sunday in a loss to the Giants, marking only the seventh time in his career he had hit so low in a lineup.

“The hitters are making the lineup,” Little said.

Little said Garciaparra needed a few extra days to regain his form after sitting out three weeks because of a calf injury.

Garciaparra got his first hit since Aug. 11 in the second inning but struck out in his other two at-bats.

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dylan.hernandez@latimes.com