Ted Lilly gives Dodgers a big boost in 2-1 win over Padres

For the pitcher and his new team, victory felt like something from the distant past.

“It’s been a long time,” said the pitcher, Ted Lilly.

“We definitely needed this win,” catcher Russell Martin said.

The 2-1 victory over the National League West-leading San Diego Padres on Tuesday night was the Dodgers’ first victory in a week and Lilly’s first in more than a month.

The Dodgers remained in an offensive malaise, but their newly acquired left-hander was used to pitching under such conditions with the Chicago Cubs, who gave him with the second-worst run support of any starting pitcher in the majors.

Lilly retired the last 20 batters he faced over seven nearly flawless innings, holding the Padres to a run and two hits. He struck out five and did not walk a batter.

In what had been a three-win season until Tuesday night, Lilly had learned some painful but valuable lessons about pitching with a miniscule lead.

“Early in the game, you’re trying to get quick outs,” he said. “You get late in the game, walks and long balls are the two things you don’t want to beat you.”

It was Lilly’s first win since June 29. The Cubs scored three runs for him in that game.

So while Scott Podsednik and Ryan Theriot haven’t hit and Octavio Dotel has been used only in a losing effort, at least one of General Manager Ned Colletti’s non-waiver trade deadline acquisitions has produced a victory.

The game was as close to a must-win game as there could be in early August, as the Dodgers ended a losing streak at six games and moved to within eight games of the Padres. They remained seven games behind the San Francisco Giants in the wild-card race.

But there were plenty of disconcerting news.

Shortstop Rafael Furcal underwent an MRI exam that showed a strain in the same area of the back on which he had surgery two years ago. He is listed day to day but teammates described Furcal as being in severe discomfort.

Manny Ramirez, who was eligible to be activated from the 15-day disabled list Tuesday, won’t be starting a minor league rehabilitation assignment for at least another week.

And Martin, who drove in the only two runs against San Diego on Tuesday on a line drive to right-center field in the second inning, will undergo an MRI exam Wednesday to find the source of the pain in his right hip.

After driving in Matt Kemp and Casey Blake on a ball that was missed by a diving Chris Denorfia, Martin advanced to third base on a wild pitch by starter Mat Latos and tried to score on a fly ball to center field by Jamey Carroll.

Martin didn’t slide, later saying he wasn’t sure whether he would have to run over catcher Nick Hundley.

Martin was tagged out and had his right foot clipped by Hundley as he ran by the plate. He landed awkwardly on the grass and felt something in his hip.

Lilly’s pinpoint command allowed Martin to remain in the game to catch — “Russell was sitting in a rocking chair,” Torre said — but when the effectively wild Hong-Chih Kuo entered the game in the eighth inning, backup catcher Brad Ausmus had to replace Martin.

Lilly threw only 87 pitches, but Torre opted to hit for the pitcher with two outs and a man on first base in the seventh inning.

Closer Jonathan Broxton, who blew a save opportunity in San Francisco on Saturday, had a nervous ninth inning. He gave up a bloop single to Jerry Hairston Jr., who moved to second base on a groundout by Miguel Tejada.

Torre let Broxton throw two pitches to left-hander Adrian Gonzalez, but then decided to walk him intentionally, in part because the runner on second base wouldn’t let the Dodgers shift their defense.

The plan worked. The Padres’ new acquisition, Ryan Ludwick, grounded into a double play.

dylan.hernandez@latimes.com

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