Cruz Second to None in No. 2 Slot

Nobody figured Jose Cruz Jr. to bat second in the Dodger lineup. Not with accomplished top-of-the order guys Kenny Lofton and Bill Mueller available. And during the spring, Manager Grady Little tried Nomar Garciaparra and Sandy Alomar Jr. in the two-hole as well.

But with Lofton and Garciaparra on the disabled list, Little played a hunch and went with Cruz.

The switch-hitting veteran has flourished, getting four hits opening day, walking and hitting a double Tuesday and banging out two more hits and a sacrifice fly Wednesday.

“I love batting second,” Cruz said. “I’m hitting behind Raffy [Furcal] and it seems like he’s always on base. I’m hitting in front of [J.D.] Drew and [Jeff] Kent, and it seems like they are always driving in runs.”

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Jae Seo’s three innings of relief Tuesday marked only the sixth time he has pitched out of the bullpen in 72 career appearances. He’s not sure he likes it.

“I’m a starting pitcher and I need a lot of time to warm up,” he said. “In the bullpen, you have to warm up quickly. It’s difficult.”

Seo had a bit of a warning before beginning the sixth inning. There was a call from the dugout to the bullpen in the bottom of the fourth to say the fifth probably would be Brad Penny’s last inning. Seo pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings, then gave up three runs before finishing the eighth and handing the ball over to Danys Baez.

Little said Seo could throw a shorter relief outing Friday or Saturday in preparation for his first start Tuesday at Pittsburgh.

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The gift might be tough to put in a frame, but James Loney appreciated it nonetheless. General Manager Ned Colletti gave him the first base bag -- complete with metal spike and fastener -- from Tuesday’s game, Loney’s first in the big leagues.

There was no doubt the base was authentic because it was caked in red infield dirt.

Loney also will get the ball he smacked into right field for his first hit, but not until clubhouse manager Mitch Poole applies decorative paint. Poole has painted milestone balls for many players.

The left-handed hitting Loney did not start Wednesday because Brave starter Horacio Ramirez is left-handed.

However, Loney said he has hit lefties well in the minors.

“Sometimes I hit them better than right-handers,” he said. “I think it’s because I concentrate more.”

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The Dodgers honored Rod Dedeaux in a pregame ceremony. Dedeaux, who died Jan. 5, coached USC to 11 national championships and played two games for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1935.