Kuo Sent to Las Vegas; Beimel Is Promoted

SAN DIEGO —  After the game, the Dodgers announced that they have optioned left-hander Hong-Chih Kuo to their triple-A Las Vegas team and purchased the contract of left-hander Joe Beimel from the same club.

Beimel has a 3-0 record in 10 games with a 1.38 earned-run average in 13 innings. He has given up nine hits, struck out nine and walked four.

Kuo, who had appeared in 10 games and worked 13 innings, was 0-3 with the Dodgers with a 5.54 ERA. He struck out 10 but walked 15.

“He has got to get better command,” said Dodger General Manager Ned Colletti, “and this is not the place to learn.”

Dodger Manager Grady Little concurred.

“He has walked way too many,” Little said, “and he needs to do a better job of holding runners on. He knows what he needs to work on.”

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Asked how long the Dodgers would stick with right-hander Lance Carter, whose struggles continued Sunday when he opened the door for the San Diego Padres’ comeback from a five-run deficit in the ninth inning, Little said, “I can’t answer that question. We are looking for spots for him, but those spots are becoming harder to find.”

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Dodger outfielder J.D. Drew did not reach base Sunday, the first time that has happened since June 16 of last season.

He had reached base on a hit or walk in 33 consecutive games. His 0-for-5 day also ended his season-high 11-game hitting streak.

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Little benched left fielder Jose Cruz Jr., who is in the midst of a three-for-40 slump, dropping his average to .231.

Cruz was replaced by Jason Repko, who went one for four, had a run-scoring single and is hitting .328.

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Former Dodger Mike Piazza, in his first season with the Padres after 7 1/2 seasons with the New York Mets, says he’s happy to be back on the West Coast.

“I’m really enjoying being here,” said the 37-year-old Piazza.

“I’m not getting any younger, but they’ve been very supportive here. I’m a little bit smarter now, and hopefully I can help our pitchers. The team has shown confidence in me, and I’m going to give them whatever I’ve got left.”