Fans welcome back Manny Ramirez

After Ramirez left his side, Torre said the fans "understand he did something wrong and he paid his price and they look forward to watching him play baseball."

"Nobody says it's OK to violate rules," Torre said. "He took his punishment."

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Kuo's return?

Left-handed pitcher Hong-Chih Kuo said he felt he was "pretty close" to returning to the majors.

"It could be next week, it could be in a couple of weeks," Kuo said.

A key part of the Dodgers' bullpen last season, Kuo went on the disabled list May 2 because of a strained elbow. He had undergone four operations on the elbow.

Kuo, who was in town to be examined by the Dodgers' medical staff, has pitched twice for triple-A Albuquerque as part of a minor league rehabilitation assignment.

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Short hops

Relief pitcher Cory Wade was placed on the 15-day disabled list for a strained right shoulder and infielder Blake DeWitt was recalled from Albuquerque. . . . Closer Jonathan Broxton, dealing with an irritated nerve in the big toe of his right foot that kept him from playing in the All-Star game, reported no problems after tossing practice pitches before Thursday's game. "I didn't feel it today," he said. "It's a lot better." But when Torre was asked if this could be a problem for Broxton all season, Torre replied: "It wouldn't surprise me."

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Times staff writer Dylan Hernandez contributed to this report.

mario.aguirre@latimes.com

james.peltz@latimes.com

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DODGERS TONIGHT

VS. HOUSTON

When: 7.

Where: Dodger Stadium.

On the air: TV: Prime Ticket; Radio: 790, 930.

Pitchers: Chad Billingsley vs. Roy Oswalt.

Update: Billingsley goes for his 10th win of the season with a 2-0 lifetime record against the Astros in two starts, and a 2.57 earned-run average. He had no decision in his most recent outing a week ago in Milwaukee, when he gave up five runs in five innings against the Brewers. Oswalt, meanwhile, had no decision in his first outing against the Dodgers this year when Houston beat the Dodgers, 6-5, at Minute Maid Park on April 22. The right-hander is 5-3 against the Dodgers with a 3.91 ERA.

-- Jim Peltz