DODGERS NOTEBOOK: AFTER HOT START, FURCAL IN FUNK.

Byline: TONY JACKSON 

Staff Writer

When Rafael Furcal returned from the disabled list and made his long- awaited season debut April 13 against San Diego, the Dodgers shortstop seemed to defy manager Grady Little's prediction by going 2 for 5 with two doubles and two RBIs.

Little had warned beforehand against expecting too much too quickly from Furcal, who hadn't faced live major-league pitching since spraining his left ankle March 22 and whose minor-league rehabilitation assignment had lasted just two games.

Since then, though, Little has proved prophetic.

Furcal went into Saturday night's game with Pittsburgh with just four hits in his past 28at-bats, a slump that began immediately after that auspicious first night back in the lineup.

"Reality set in," Little said. "It's going to take him a while to get back into the flow of the game and the flow of the season. He isn't going to be great from Day 1 on."

Furcal doesn't appear to be pressing, and he has been patient enough to draw three walks.

"(His approach) is good," Little said. "He is seeing a lot of pitches. He is taking bases on balls when he is able to, and he isn't chasing bad pitches. He is just not at a point where he is getting a lot of hits."

Furcal's slump has been offset at the top of the order by No.2 hitter Juan Pierre, who has sizzled of late. He entered the day with five consecutive multiple-hit games, a stretch during which Pierre had 11 hits in 22 at-bats.

Kuo delivers: Left-hander Hong-Chih Kuo, who has been on the 15-day disabled list since spring training with rotator cuff inflammation, threw a three-inning, 45-pitch simulated game. Little said Kuo probably will throw a second one, this time four innings and 60pitches, on either Wednesday or Thursday, after which he likely will go on a rehab assignment.

"He threw the ball well, and the ball came out of his hand very well," Little said. "He will do it one more time, and we will go from there. I don't know where we'll send him just yet, but I'm sure it will be somewhere if he gets through that (second simulated game)."

Other injuries: Although team medical officials hit the pause button on his rehab assignment after one game at Triple-A Las Vegas, outfielder Matt Kemp said the discomfort he still is feeling in his right shoulder when he throws isn't a setback.

"I guess it's normal when you have an injury like I have," he said.

Kemp played soft toss and also hit against Kuo in the simulated game. He isn't eligible to come off the DL until Thursday.

Meanwhile, right-hander Jason Schmidt (bursitis) still hasn't been cleared for activity.

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DODGERS vs. PITTSBURGH

- Tony Jackson