Dodgers find a little way to win with Jamey Carroll in 4-1 victory over Padres

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A big reason I love baseball is because of the little guys.

You don’t have to be 6 feet 8 and 278 pounds to play baseball. You don’t have to be 6-2 and 220.

Baseball players come in all shapes and sizes. Well, most shapes and sizes.

But it is really the only major professional sport in this country where the little guy can frequently excel. Where your determination and wits can make you successful.

Guys like the Padres’ 5-7 David Eckstein and the Dodgers’ 5-9 Jamey Carroll. Guys who use their brains more than their brawn.

Thursday night Carroll, starting his 22nd consecutive game since Rafael Furcal went on the disabled list, drove in a pair of runs in the Dodgers’ 4-1 victory over the Padres.

Carroll drove in the Dodgers’ first run with a sacrifice fly in the second inning. Then he singled in another run in the Dodgers’ three-run sixth.

With Clayton Kershaw (4-2) turning in his third consecutive ace-like performance (7 1/3 innings, one run, seven hits, seven strikeouts and two walks), it was all the offense the Dodgers really needed.

Carroll is not an imposing physical specimen. He packs only 168 pounds on his 5-9 frame. He’s fast, but not exceptionally so. Doesn’t have any particular power, like a Joe Morgan (5-7, 160 and 268 career home runs).

And he doesn’t have the range of the 5-8 Furcal.

But he grinds and uses his smarts and hustles and finds a way to get it done.

The Dodgers are 15-7 since he began filling in for Furcal. Carroll’s batted .318 with 12 runs and nine RBIs in that span.

Maybe not big numbers, but you gotta love ’em.

-- Steve Dilbeck