Positioned to Succeed - James Loney had the potential to reach the majors as a pitcher, but the Dodgers drafted him to play the infield. Today, he's their starting first baseman and No. 3 hitter.

The Dodgers blew a five-run lead but won, 19-11. Brad Penny was hurt. And Loney, who hadn't started in 25 games, found himself the unlikely hero.

He drove in nine runs, tying Gil Hodges' 56-year-old franchise record. He hit two home runs, including a grand slam.

That game last September in Colorado was probably something that happens once in a lifetime -- "The stars were all lined up, there was probably a full moon that night," Manager Grady Little said -- but for Loney, it came at the right time.

"It felt great," Loney said. "I wasn't playing that much, you know."

Doubts regarding his place on the team have since vanished. With two weeks remaining in the regular season, the 23-year-old Loney returns to Coors Field today as the team's everyday first baseman and No. 3 hitter. He has been their biggest bat in their biggest games, hitting .475 with five home runs in the last 10 games.

"I'm feeling like I belong out there," Loney said.

He was far less certain of that this spring. His .380 average at triple-A Las Vegas was the best in all of minor league baseball last season, and he had played well in his three call-ups to the majors.

But J.D. Drew's departure had the Dodgers scrambling for power. They re-signed Nomar Garciaparra, who had hit 20 home runs last season, and made him their starting first baseman. Loney, who had hit only 12 home runs between the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League and the majors, was sent to Las Vegas.

Loney acknowledges he was disappointed. But he didn't sulk.

Sulking wasn't an option for Loney. His father, Marion, was always around to make sure of that. Marion, a former college baseball player, coached him from the time he was in Little League to when he played summer ball in high school.

"I always used him as an example when I was coaching the kids," Marion said. "I would punish him and he didn't like that, so he learned how to listen."

Listen. Shut up. Play hard.

By mid-June, Loney was back in the majors. Within a couple of weeks, he had forced his way into the everyday lineup, resulting in Garciaparra's move to third.

Little said Loney came back a different player.

"He had that big game in Colorado, but he had some tough times last year too," Little said. "He grew from tough times much more than he did from that game in which he had nine RBIs. He learned how to deal with the tough times. He's had tough times this year too, but they didn't last as long."