Struggling Beltre Gets a Short Break

With Adrian Beltre mired in a two-for-24 slump over his last seven games, Dodger Manager Jim Tracy took the third baseman out of the lineup Wednesday in hopes a day off might help.

“There was a similar situation a while back with Shawn Green,” Tracy said. “I felt it was a necessary step, and I feel it’s now time for me to step in and give him a day where he can get away from it. We’ve tried all the other avenues already.”

Tracy said Beltre, who came into the game in the eighth inning as a defensive replacement, “presumably” will be back in the lineup today. Dave Hansen replaced him at third Wednesday.

Beltre, batting .241, hasn’t been speaking to the media and declined interview requests.

“I told him, ‘I’m going to give you a day off,’ and he said, ‘I just had one Monday,’ ” Tracy said. “The player will always fight you on that.... As of right now, I would put him back out there tomorrow.”

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The Dodgers lowered the flags to half-staff and held a moment of silence for Hall of Fame broadcaster Jack Buck, recalling Buck’s famous call of Kirk Gibson’s home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.

Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully called Buck “a gruff-voiced guy with a big heart,” and Dodger coach Jack Clark, a former Cardinal, remembered the St. Louis broadcaster as a close friend

“He was always there for you,” Clark said. “He wanted to see you do good and he wanted to see the Cardinals do good. If you were a Cardinal, you were part of Jack Buck’s family.... He was class all the way around.

“He made me feel like a son. It’s really sad.”

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After skipping a start to relieve biceps tendinitis, left-hander Omar Daal will start Saturday against Boston, Tracy said.

Daal said he had only “regular soreness” the day after throwing in the bullpen Tuesday.

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Pitcher Kazuhisa Ishii will make his first community appearance since joining the Dodgers this season Friday at the Ardmore Recreation Center in Seoul International Park at 3250 Marino Street.

Registration for the clinic for boys and girls ages 6-14 begins at 10 a.m.

Senior Vice President Tom Lasorda and coach Manny Mota also will participate.

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Laker forward Rick Fox threw out the first pitch.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

ODALIS PEREZ

(7-3, 2.62 ERA)

vs.

BLUE JAYS’

ESTEBAN LOAIZA

(3-3, 4.75 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 7

TV--Fox Sports Net 2.

Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330)

Update--Perez didn’t give up a walk in his victory over the Angels on Saturday, giving up two runs and six hits over seven innings in the Dodgers’ 10-5 victory. It was the seventh time in 14 starts this season he hasn’t walked a batter. Loaiza pitched well coming off the disabled list in mid-May but has faltered lately, becoming yet another Toronto starter with an ERA of more than 4.50.

Tickets--(323) 244-1448