ShareThisWhatever production the Los Angeles Dodgers lost in their Manny-less batting order cannot be pinned on his replacement, Juan Pierre, who is 9 for 16 in the four games since Ramirez was suspended.
On Sunday, Pierre went 3 for 5 with a double, three runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base. In 25 games, Pierre is hitting .426 overall and .500 as a starter. In four games since Ramirez went out last week, Pierre has four RBI, four runs scored and two stolen bases.
"When I wasn't playing, I was just trying to stay as prepared as possible for when I do get a chance to play," said Pierre, a career .301 hitter in nearly 10 years in the majors. "Now that I'm playing a little bit, I just try to keep the same mind frame. At least it's not foreign territory. I'm used to being out there every day, so it helps a lot."
The 31-year-old Pierre played in all 162 games during his first year with the Dodgers (2007). He lost his starting job to Andruw Jones last year even before Ramirez arrived.
Against Giants ace Tim Lincecum on Sunday, Pierre went 2-for-2 with a double to improve his career average against Lincecum to .455.
"He's a bulldog," Pierre said of Lincecum, the reigning N.L. Cy Young winner, "so you know you've got to fight for everything you've got. I just tried to get my foot down early because he throws hard. Find the holes, man. I don't think it's a rhyme or reason to hitting him that I've found. I just happen to find some holes."
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
Must credit The Press-Enterprise of Riverside, Calif.
