Dodgers call up Dee Gordon, Elian Herrera and Stephen Fife

It’s not exactly the cavalry arriving, but right now any warm bodies can’t hurt.

The Dodgers have started calling up additional forces from the farm system, and with the Albuquerque Isotopes’ season now over, the parent club added some speed and utility Tuesday with shortstop Dee Gordon and infielder/outfielder Elian Herrera, and another long man in the bullpen in Stephen Fife.

With Adam Kennedy and Kenley Jansen sidelined, that leaves Manager Don Mattingly with 32 healthy bodies to play with.

Gordon returns after injuring his right thumb July 3 and needing surgery to repair a torn tendon. He hit .267 (eight for 30) with two stolen bases for the Isotopes.

When he was injured, he was the Dodgers’ starting shortstop. Since the surgery Dodgers acquired Hanley Ramirez, currently starting at short, with surprising Luis Cruz starting at third.

Gordon doesn’t figure to unseat either for now. They have been two of the Dodgers’ most reliable hitters in an offense that otherwise has largely struggled.

Herrera had spent 10 years in the minors when the Dodgers called him up May 14, and he got off to a terrific start, hitting .305 in his first 105 at-bats and bringing the Dodgers some needed energy. Herrera, however, cooled and hit just .141 in his next 64 at-bats and was returned to Albuquerque. He hit .341 for the Isotopes.

Fife was up earlier, going 0-1 with 2.16 ERA in three starts. He held the Giants to one run in a game the Dodgers ultimately won July 27 in San Francisco.

The Dodgers placed Kennedy (groin) on the 60-day disabled list to make room on the 40-man roster for Gordon.

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