--C Russell Martin, whose entire season had been a struggle at the plate, finally broke out Wednesday with three hits in five at-bats. Martin had a double in his final at-bat, snapping a string of eight consecutive games in which he hadn't delivered an extra-base hit. Martin has now been on base in nine of his past 16 plate appearances, going 7-for-14 with two walks.
--LF Manny Ramirez had the big hit Wednesday, a two-run double in the Dodgers' seven-run sixth inning, which matched their biggest inning of the season. It was Ramirez's only hit of the night. His past eight hits have gone for extra bases, six doubles and two home runs. Ramirez also walked in the first inning and now has reached base in 22 of his past 41 plate appearances. --2B Orlando Hudson went 2-for-3 with a double and two walks Wednesday, extending his hitting streak to eight games. He is batting .387 (12-for-31) during the streak. He is hitting .460 (23-for-50) at Dodger Stadium this season and .369 (48-for-130) in 33 games there in his career.
--RHP James McDonald, who was removed from the rotation last weekend after failing three times in four starts to complete five innings, made his first appearance out of the bullpen since then and his second of the season. McDonald pitched a perfect sixth inning Wednesday. McDonald has retired six of seven batters without allowing a runner past first base in his two relief outings.
MEDICAL WATCH:
LHP Hong-Chih Kuo (left elbow strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 30.
RHP Hiroki Kuroda (strained left oblique) went on the 15-day disabled list April 11. He played catch without discomfort May 5, but he had yet to be scheduled for a rehab start.
RHP Jason Schmidt (right shoulder surgery) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 30. He was still pitching in extended spring training as of early May, but he might start a rehab assignment during the weekend of May 8-10.
RHP Claudio Vargas (right elbow tendinitis) went on the 60-day disabled list retroactive to April 6. He might return as soon as he's eligible.
INF Doug Mientkiewicz (dislocated right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list April 17, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 30. He had surgery April 20, and he is unlikely to return before September.
ROTATION:
LHP Randy Wolf
RHP Chad Billingsley
LHP Clayton Kershaw
LHP Eric Stults
RHP Jeff Weaver
BULLPEN:
RHP Jonathan Broxton (closer)
RHP Cory Wade
RHP Guillermo Mota
LHP Will Ohman
RHP Ronald Belisario
RHP James McDonald
RHP Ramon Troncoso
LHP Brent Leach
CATCHERS:
Russell Martin
Brad Ausmus
INFIELDERS:
1B James Loney
2B Orlando Hudson
SS Rafael Furcal
3B Casey Blake
INF Juan Castro
INF Mark Loretta
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Manny Ramirez
CF Matt Kemp
RF Andre Ethier
OF Juan Pierre
