Garciaparra returns and Dodgers pound the Pirates

His reaction? Better late than never.

That's because with third baseman Nomar Garciaparra coming off the disabled list to make his debut 15 games into the schedule, the suddenly resurgent Dodgers offense pounded out a season-high 15 hits to roll past the Pittsburgh Pirates, 8-1.

"It worked well," Torre said. "The top of the lineup did a lot of damage."

"It's not a surprise. I'm happy to see it."

And the Dodgers did more than just hit. They also got a solid effort from right-hander Brad Penny, who gave up only an unearned run through 5 2/3 innings, 3 1/3 scoreless innings from their bullpen and some sterling defense from right fielder Matt Kemp, who threw out Xavier Nady at the plate in the second inning, before the game became a rout.

Garciaparra's contributions were minimal -- he walked twice and singled in four plate appearances, and committed a fielding error before leaving for a pinch-runner in the seventh. What they represented for a team that started the season with four players on the DL, however, was significant.

"We're starting to get whole," Torre said.

Garciaparra fractured a bone in his right hand during the Dodgers' 10th spring training game, landing him on the disabled list for opening day. But after a three-game minor league rehab assignment, Garciaparra returned to Los Angeles on Tuesday and to the lineup Wednesday.

Torre wasn't expecting Garciaparra back until Friday. But when the six-time All-Star said he was ready Wednesday, the manager immediately wrote his name into the lineup.

"We might as well throw him out there," said Torre, who waited until Garciaparra got through batting practice unscathed before formally activating him. "If we're going to do it Friday anyway, there's nothing really to prevent him from playing [Wednesday]. He's not going to get any better by Friday."

By the time Garciaparra came to bat for the first time, the Dodgers had a 3-0 lead, opening the game with four consecutive singles followed by a sacrifice fly from James Loney. They scored another run in the first on Juan Pierre's RBI bunt single, then put the game away in the second on Rafael Furcal's homer and another scoring fly ball from Loney, who later singled to run his hitting streak to 15 games.