June 11, 2007

Kemp finally forces his way onto roster
The healthy outfielder is hoping to spark the sagging offense.

By CURTIS ZUPKE

LOS ANGELESAn injury and a crowded roster prevented Matt Kemp from staying with the Dodgers earlier this season, but the now healthy outfielder has put up numbers that can no longer be ignored.

The Dodgers recalled Kemp from Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday and placed infielder Ramon Martinez on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Monday, because of a lower-back strain. Kemp joined the team before the game.
"He'll get his share of playing time," Manager Grady Little said.

Kemp was batting .329 with four home runs and 20 RBIs for Las Vegas. He had a 14-game hitting streak snapped Thursday.

The move was the latest in an up-and-down season for Kemp, who suffered a mild separation of his right shoulder when he crashed into the right-field wall on April 9. He was reinstated April 27 but immediately was optioned to Las Vegas because the club did not have room on the roster.

"It was disappointing, but they had to make a move," Kemp said. "Going down there and getting my work in got the job done."

Kemp played center and right field in Las Vegas. He was used as a pinch runner Friday.
"I feel like he can make a difference in our club," Little said. "He's been playing awfully good in Triple-A, and we're happy to have him on board."

Martinez injured his back earlier in the week.

DE JONG RECALLED
Jordan De Jong still was in a haze when he roamed the visitor's clubhouse at Dodger Stadium, four days after Toronto recalled him from Triple-A Syracuse.

"It's been a blur," De Jong said. "I haven't really had time to gather what's happened."

The Blue Jays didn't waste time getting the former Cal State Fullerton pitcher acclimated. De Jong struck out his first three batters in his major-league debut Wednesday, the first time a pitcher had done so since John Parrish for Baltimore in 2000.

Friday was a bit of a homec

oming for De Jong. He lives in Yorba Linda, and his parents were on hand for the game.

NOTES
The Dodgers selected two more pitchers — junior college right-hander Justin Miller and high-school senior Danny Danielson — with their sixth- and seventh-round draft picks Friday and finished with 21 pitchers among their 40 selections. Other picks included pitcher Paul Koss of USC (11th round), infielder/catcher Matt Wallach of Cal State Fullerton (22nd) and outfielder Joris Bert, the first player drafted out of the MLB European Academy (19th). …
Minor-league outfielder Mitch Jones, who has 19 home runs and 60 RBIs, has been removed from the Las Vegas roster because the Dodgers are preparing to deal him to the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan.

TONIGHT
RHP Derek Lowe (6-5, 3.44) opposes RHP Shaun Marcum (2-2, 4.06) at 7:10 p.m. The game will be broadcast by FSN, KFWB/980 and KWKW/1330 (Spanish).