Dodgers: Kent says injury isn't that serious

"Because I've got time, I can take time," he said, adding that he wouldn't play in any exhibition games for a week.

Kent, who sat out the Dodgers' 9-6 comeback victory over the Boston Red Sox on Thursday, blamed himself for getting hurt the previous day in pregame warmups at the New York Mets' spring training facility. The Dodgers took batting practice in Vero Beach before leaving because rain had soaked the field at Port St. Lucie.

"Sitting in the bus with your knees in a tight spot for a long bus ride after batting practice, that's probably what did it," he said. "I should've known better. I should've told [Manager Joe Torre] that I wasn't going to go."

Torre said that when he managed the New York Yankees, it wasn't uncommon for his team to hit at home on the day of road games when the weather made it impossible to take batting practice at the game site.

Because of Kent's situation, Torre said it was vital that he observe Tony Abreu in game action over the next several days. Torre will head to China on Wednesday with a split squad for a pair of exhibition games against the San Diego Padres, and Abreu won't be among the players making the trip.

Abreu hasn't played in a game this spring because of complications stemming from off-season abdominal surgery but was expected to make his spring debut either today or Saturday.

"Coming in, he seemed to be the one that would be doing most of the second base action when Jeff wasn't," Torre said. "My first priority right now is to get as much information on Abreu as I possibly can."

Torre said he hasn't ruled out Nomar Garciaparra as a potential replacement for Kent, though he admitted he had yet to rule out anything because he hadn't had much time to ponder the situation.

Rivalry turns friendly

Facing the Boston Red Sox while wearing a Dodgers uniform was a much different experience than facing them wearing a Yankees uniform, Torre said. Torre took photographs with Red Sox Manager Terry Francona behind home plate before the game, something that would have been unthinkable when he was with the Yankees.