Hitters do enough for Hiroki Kuroda in 5-4 victory over Brewers
Who knows how long the heart of the Dodgers’ lineup will remain intact after Manny Ramirez, Casey Blake and some other Dodgers reportedly were put on waivers Wednesday.
But for one night, at least, the core group again showed the offensive form that was supposed to help the Dodgers repeat as division winners.
Ramirez, Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp and James Loney all contributed at least one run batted in, and Blake went two for five and scored a run, as the Dodgers defeated the Milwaukee Brewers, 5-4, to take the first two games of their three-game series.
The Dodgers moved to within 5 1/2 games of the Philadelphia Phillies, who lost to the Houston Astros, in the National League wild-card race.
Dodgers starter Hiroki Kuroda (9-11) got the victory — his first in his last six starts — despite giving up four runs and seven hits in seven innings.
Jonathan Broxton pitched a scoreless eighth inning and three relievers — Ronald Belisario, George Sherrill and Octavio Dotel — retired the side in the ninth, with Dotel earning the save.
“I really didn’t have my best stuff tonight,” Kuroda said through an interpreter. “But you’ve got to keep pitching tough and the results will come.”
It was the first time this season the Dodgers faced Milwaukee starter Randy Wolf, who joined the Brewers after an 11-7 season with the Dodgers in 2009.
The Dodgers tagged Wolf (10-10) for four runs and seven hits in his five innings, which included Ethier’s 20th home run of the season. Ethier hadn’t previously faced Wolf, nor had Loney, who hit a fastball from Wolf for a two-run single in the fifth inning.
“I like facing guys you know, it’s always good competition,” Loney said. “All the guys were having good at-bats, driving the ball, and any time you can do that we’ve got a pretty good chance.”
Manny’s stroke
As the reports mounted that Ramirez had been put on waivers and thus might be nearing the end of his days as a Dodger, the 38-year-old slugger broke out of an 0-for-7 hitless streak since coming off the disabled list Saturday.
Ramirez walked twice and doubled off Wolf, then hit another double to score Ryan Theriot in the sixth inning against reliever Mike McClendon with what proved to be the winning run.
Before the game, Manager Joe Torre had said Ramirez “looks out of rhythm” and that “what would help right now is [to] just get a few hits in the game and all of a sudden things would feel a little bit better.”
Torre planned to rest Ramirez on Thursday when the Dodgers play a day game to close their series with the Brewers. They open a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies in Denver on Friday.
Short hops
Starting pitcher Vicente Padilla, on the disabled list because of a bulging disk in his neck, made about 40 throws up to 120 feet Wednesday and “everything went well,” Torre said. “He had a good workout.” … Shortstop Rafael Furcal, also on the DL because of a low back strain, hit off a tee and “just feels a touch” in his back, Torre said. “Hopefully we’ll get to see him on Monday when we get home.”
james.peltz@latimes.com
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