If that's "Manny being Manny," fans will get used to it PDQ

The Good

• Manny Ramirez:  As mentioned, it was #99's night.  A little luck (and by "luck," I mean "Derryl Cousins mistakenly ruling good a bunt that drifted clearly foul") put Juan Pierre on first and the speedster nabbed second after tagging up on Kemp's fly to center.  From there, Ramirez took over, blasting the first pitch he saw from Snake starter Yousmeiro Petit over the fence in nearly straightaway center.  Just like the hitter himself, you knew that one was gone the minute it left his bat. A cap tip to the crowd and "Manny" chants followed.  He later led off the sixth inning with a center field single, reached third on James Loney's knock to right, then touched home after Jeff Kent deposited a first pitch single into left field.  Manny also recovered after what looked like an initially poor read to backtrack and snag a Mark Reynolds fly ball.
• Hiroki Kuroda: As much spotlight shined on the Dodgers' biggest star, a little filament heat should be reserved to illuminate Kuroda, who put arguably as big a stamp on the game.  Arizona catcher Miguel Montero entered the game without a homer to his '08 campaign, which makes a one-run long ball clocked into the right field stands something of a disappointing surprise.  But that moment aside, Kuroda bounced back from a rough recent stretch in a big way.  7.1 innings with just three more hits and zero more runs than the one allowed against Montero.  Throw in six strikeouts against nary a walk and Torre is optimistic his righty may have rediscovered the form exhibited before the All-Star break.
  
• James Loney's glove: While debating an extra base on a right field single, Loney's hand got caught in the metaphorical cookie jar (with the rest of his body caught in a real life rundown).  But when that same hand was inside a mitt, the first baseman succeeded with flying colors.  He dove a long way to snare Orlando Hudson's first inning gap attempt.  He got the ball to Kuroda, who just barely beat the 'Zona 2B in a foot race to the bag.  Loney also ran down Alex Romero's hard liner a few feet behind the bag along the base line.  Another throw to a dashing Kuroda and you've got a SportsCenter worthy highlight.
  
• Casey Blake: Like a certain fellow newbie, Blake delivered his first jack since arriving in town, a second inning solo shot that put the Blue up by three and ultimately wound up the game winner.  He also belted a fourth inning ground rule double that looked for a second like it might make it out.  Like many folks, I wasn't expecting a ton from the trade for Blake.  Like many people, I've been very pleasantly surprised.
  
  "He played well under pressure," praised Torre.  "I thought he was an important player for us again.  We've had young players at third base.  They've done a good job.  But Casey Blake, and now Manny, they've done a good job for us."  As for Blake, he's just happy to be performing well in a new house.  Mid-season trades are often nerve shredding and there's a constant urge to make a good impression.  So far, no worries.
  
• Jeff Kent: Two base hits- the latter of which was concluded with a hard slide into first- and one ribbie.  That offsets an 8th inning error in my book.

The Mixed

• Hong-Chih Kuo: On one hand, he helped preserve Hiroki Kuroda's rebound effort by taking over during during a sticky top of the eighth.  With men on first and third and only one out, Kuo fanned Stephen Drew, then forced an Orlando Hudson grounder to end the inning. The ensuing 21-pitch ninth frame, however, proved considerably tougher.   He got off on the wrong foot by walking Conor Jackson, then allowed a two out RBI-single to Alex Romero.  With Torre having seen enough, Chan Ho Park got the call to wrap 'er up for good.  Like I said, Kuo hit both ends of the spectrum.
  

A few more notes:  Brad Penny's rehab start in Oklahoma City amounted to four IP, 6H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K's, 55 pitches, 44 strikes, with 98 mph hit on the radar gun.  Scott Proctor also pitched two thirds of a simulated rehab game with 3 runs (1 earned), 1 K and no walks.

Oh, and I apologize for the lack of audio, particularly the Manny-centric variety.  My iPod froze after recording Torre and Blake, and it was too chaotic to restart it until after I left the clubhouse.  Bummer.

AUDIO
Joe Torre: Download joe_torre.mp3
Casey Blake: Download casey_blake.mp3

AK