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Manny Ramirez plays like a keeper in Dodgers’ 5-4 victory over Brewers

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Here’s a question: What if Manny Ramirez, while treating the next couple of days as an audition for a new team, plays so well that he helps push the Dodgers back into the playoff picture?

Could he actually play so well that the Dodgers could not afford to move him?

Ramirez started resembling the player of old Wednesday -- or at least the one from the first half of the season -- collecting a pair of doubles and walking twice.

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His second double drove in what proved the winning run, as the Dodgers edged the Brewers 5-4, and in the process, pulled to within 5½ games of the National League wild card.

Ramirez was reportedly placed on waivers Wednesday. That would give teams two days to put in a claim. If he clears, the Dodgers could trade him to any team.

Ramirez had been 0-for-7 since coming off the disabled list Saturday for the third time, but he started to appear like someone getting his timing back Wednesday.

After Andre Ethier hit his 20th home run of the season in the third, Ramirez doubled to right. He walked for the second time and scored in the fifth.

And then in the sixth he followed a Ryan Theriot double with a run-scoring double of his own.

The beneficiary of all this offense was right-hander Hiroki Kuroda (9-11), who went seven innings, allowing Milwaukee’s four runs on seven hits and four walks. He struck out six.

Left-hander Randy Wolf (10-10), whose allowed departure by the Dodgers last offseason caused its share of fan anguish, lasted only five innings for the Brewers. He allowed four runs on seven hits, walked three and struck out four.

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After the Brewers scored three times to go in front 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth, the Dodgers quickly regained the lead with three of their own in the fifth.

A Theriot double and walk to Ramirez preceded a run-scoring sacrifice fly by Matt Kemp. Casey Blake doubled Ramirez to third, before James Loney’s sharp single scored both.

Jonathan Broxton pitched a perfect eighth inning, and Ronald Belisario, George Sherrill and Octavio Dotel each got one out in the ninth, Dotel getting credit for his 22nd save, but first as a Dodger.

-- Steve Dilbeck

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