Dodgers have to feel relieved at bullpen performance

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That looked familiar. At least for those whose memories of the Dodgers’ bullpen happily go back to last season.

Back then, the Dodgers had the most feared ’pen in all of baseball. Had a lights-out closer in Jonathan Broxton. Scary set-up men. Finest bullpen ERA in the majors.

This season, it’s mostly been another story. Particularly early. Inconsistent. Guys hurt, guys in search of mechanics. Broxton waiting for a save situation that almost never came.

But Friday night, the bullpen was all-world again. For one night, exactly everything Joe Torre could hope for. And just maybe, a clearer indication of things to come.

Torre essentially got away with throwing six relievers at the Padres. Ramon Ortiz started for the first time in three years, and if he wasn’t exactly brilliant, he kept the Dodgers in the game for four-plus innings.

Then the call went to the bullpen five times, and five times it delivered.

George Sherrill, who had been an almost unhittable set-up man last season but has struggled to regain his form this year, relieved Ortiz in the fifth and retired the Padres in order.

Jeff Weaver came on in the sixth and did the same, ultimately getting credit for the victory.

Ronald Belisario started the seventh and got two quick outs. But when he gave up a single, Torre went quickly to Hong-Chih Kuo.

Who cannot root for Kuo?

Four elbow surgeries and still coming back for more. Torre has justifiably handled Kuo with kid gloves this season, but after Kuo struck out Adrian Gonzalez in a classic power match-up, he brought him back the next inning for the first time all season.

And Kuo pitched a scoreless eighth. That brought on Broxton, who retired the Padres in order for his fifth save.

It could not have gone any better for Torre. The bullpen combined for five scoreless innings, lowering its ERA to 4.48. In the last 14 games, it has a 3.48 ERA.

After a rough, and foreign-looking start, the bullpen may finally be looking like last year’s unit.

-- Steve Dilbeck