Dodgers: Javy Guerra up, Josh Wall down, Hanley Ramirez to start

Josh Wall, who took one for the team Monday night throwing 62 pitches in the Dodgers’ 12-2 loss to the Rockies, was rewarded Tuesday.

He was optioned back to triple-A Albuquerque.

The Dodgers called up former closer Javy Guerra to fill his spot on the roster.

Neither move was exactly a surprise.

Wall, 26, had struggled with the Dodgers, posting an unsightly 18.00 earned-run average in six appearances. Much of the damage came Tuesday when he allowed seven earned runs in two innings. He gave up five runs in the fourth, but came back to pitch the fifth.

“He really sucked it up for us,” Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly said. “He threw almost 40 pitches in that first inning and then came back out and really saved the ’pen.”

Said Wall on Monday after the game: “I didn’t do much of a job, but at that point I was really happy to eat up a middle inning and same some arms.”

Guerra actually figures to be used in long relief. He had been stretched at Albuquerque, starting four games. He threw five innings in his last appearance for the Isotopes on Friday.

In his four games, Guerra was 0-2 with a 4.02 ERA. He was with the team before Tuesday’s pregame workout.

Tuesday will also mark the first start of the season of shortstop Hanley Ramirez. He is scheduled to bat fifth.

Yes, they’re rolling the dice here.

Ramirez was activated before Monday’s game and struck out looking in a pinch-hitting appearance.

The Dodgers are confident the right thumb he had surgery on to repair a torn ligament has healed enough, but they’re gambling somewhat that he’s baseball ready.

Ramirez made only two rehab appearances before being activated.