Vicente Padilla gets shelled by Royals

Reporting from Phoenix — Manager Joe Torre sent his newly named opening-day starter to the mound with the intention of stretching him out, only for him to last just 4 1/3 innings as owner Frank McCourt looked on from the Dodgers’ suite at Camelback Ranch.

McCourt’s most expensive free-agent signing of the winter at $5.025 million, Vicente Padilla was pounded for five runs and eight hits in an 8-4 loss to the Kansas City Royals.

But Padilla said he was encouraged by how he felt, pointing out the movement of his sinker and attributing the Royals’ four-run outburst in the fifth inning to bad luck.

He also said he felt relieved of some of the stiffness in his forearm, and he was pleased that he threw 97 pitches.

“I think that if I throw 97 pitches, I’ll usually pitch more than five innings,” Padilla said.

On the mend

Russell Martin played in his second minor league game in two days, catching six innings. He batted second in every inning and was two for six at the plate.

Martin, who is coming back from a groin strain suffered this month, is to rest Saturday and might play in the Dodgers’ game against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday.

His backup, Brad Ausmus, returned to game action, catching three innings in the major league game.

Kuo probably out for opening day

Setup man Hong-Chih Kuo has been shut down because of soreness in his elbow.

Asked if Kuo might start the season on the disabled list, Torre replied, “It wouldn’t surprise me, just the fact that you’re close to the end and you’re not sure at this point.”

Kuo last pitched on March 19.

Although Torre would not completely shut the door on Kuo, he did so with Ronald Belisario, who remains in his native Venezuela because of visa problems.

“I know if he comes in now, he’s certainly not going to be available for us,” Torre said.

Short hops

The Dodgers aren’t looking outside of the organization for pitching help, Torre said.… Torre hinted that he might be leaning toward naming Blake DeWitt as his starting second baseman, saying, “There’s no question Blake DeWitt has been very impressive. I wouldn’t be afraid of playing him out there.”

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