Former Dodger Rafael Furcal ‘doing pretty good’ in St. Louis

Reporting from St. Louis — Now wearing Cardinals red instead of Dodgers blue, veteran shortstop Rafael Furcal said he was adjusting quickly to his new surroundings in St. Louis.

“I’m doing pretty good,” he said before Monday’s game. “I’m not hitting the way I’m used to hitting, but I’m playing good defense and I’m on the bases a lot of times.”

Coincidentally, it was a defensive play involving Furcal that later was the difference in the Dodgers’ 2-1 win. Aaron Miles scored from third base ahead of a throw by Furcal to the plate.

Furcal was not in the starting lineup after twisting his right thumb Sunday while falling in indoor batting cages at Wrigley Field in Chicago. But he was inserted into the game in the ninth inning.

Furcal, 33, spent 51/2 years with the Dodgers but was traded to the Cardinals just before the non-waiver trade deadline July 31. He left the the clubhouse at Dodger Stadium while the team was still playing.

“I said [goodbye] to them before that,” Furcal said. “They understand my situation. It was a little tough, emotional. I loved the [Dodgers] fans there. They treated me so good.”

Law firm bills Dodgers

The law firm retained by Dodgers owner Frank McCourt to represent the team in its bankruptcy proceedings billed the team $1.7 million for five weeks of work, according to documents filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

There was no player in the Dodgers’ starting lineup Monday who earns $1.7 million per month. Outfielder Andre Ethier has the highest monthly salary at $1.58 million, based on dividing annual salary by the six months of the regular season.

The firm of Dewey and LeBoeuf asked the court to authorize payment of $1.4 million, representing 80% of the fees charged by the attorneys and 100% of costs incurred by the firm.

The pay range for the Dewey team: 10 partners at $725 to $1,000 per hour; two counselors at $700 per hour; 17 associates at $385 to $650 per hour; seven paralegals at $200 to $295 per hour; 10 support staffers at $160 to $550 per hour.

Short hops

Pitcher Ted Lilly, who left his most recent game in the fifth inning because of a stiff neck, is expected to start as scheduled Friday against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium, Manager Don Mattingly said. … After collecting four hits Sunday, first baseman James Loney had three hits Monday while batting second in the lineup. … Loney threw in the bullpen Sunday in case he was needed to help the Dodgers’ overworked relief staff, and Mattingly was asked whether he now was more or less inclined to let Loney pitch if ever needed. “More inclined,” Mattingly said. “It sounds like he was really good.”

james.peltz@latimes.com

Times staff writer Bill Shaikin contributed to this report.