Blake DeWitt looks completely at home in Dodgers’ 12-4 victory over Cards

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It’s been Blake DeWitt this, Blake DeWitt that.

Too many seemingly a tad eager to give up on the 24-year-old during his first season as the Dodgers’ regular second baseman.

Certainly, DeWitt wasn’t exactly putting up record numbers. Modest, maybe, but solid. And then there was that recent 0-for-15 skid over a five-game stretch.

But he is hot now, to which the St. Louis Cardinals can attest after DeWitt hit his first home of the season and drove in a career-high five runs in the Dodgers’ 12-4 victory Monday night.

DeWitt has followed his hitless slide, by going seven for 13 in his last four games, raising his season average to .281.

Even his play at second base, admittedly shaky early, continues to improve.

Maybe at some point Manager Joe Torre won’t have to assure DeWitt, who has options left, is not the one who’s going down to make room for the next player move.

‘Every time there’s a move to be made, I’ve had to call him in,’ Torre said. ‘It was finally to the point I had to tell him, ‘No, you’re not going anywhere.’ I told him, ‘We’re going to make a move this weekend, and you’re not that either.’ We’re trying to make light of it.’

DeWitt wasn’t in need of an reassurance Monday. He singled in a run in the third, had a three-run home run in the fifth and hit a drive to the warning track in the seventh for a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

He also made an outstanding over-the-shoulder catch on a Jason LaRue fly ball in the ninth.

Carlos Monasterios picked up the victory to raise his record to 3-0.

--Steve Dilbeck