PHOENIX -- A day that began with smiles for the Dodgers courtesy of Manny Ramirez's arrival had a happy ending as well.
Xavier Paul homered in the eighth inning and added an RBI single in the ninth, and Jason Repko capped a two-run rally with a game-winning single as Los Angeles beat a Chicago White Sox split squad 5-4 on Thursday.
Dodgers starter Hiroki Kuroda extended a perfect spring, retiring nine of his 10 batters in a sharp, three-inning stint. He has tossed five scoreless innings in two appearances, allowing only two hits without a walk.
"He was only supposed to pitch two innings but he blew through it so quickly we gave him another," said manager Joe Torre, who is considering Kuroda along with Chad Billingsley and Randy Wolf as his opening day starter. "After what he did in October last year, we're certainly not hesitant about naming him. It's just a matter of which way we want to go."
Ramirez did make one appearance, stepping out on the balcony of the Dodgers' executive offices in left field in full uniform -- between photo responsibilities -- and waving to the cheering crowd of 5,594 before the second inning.
On the field, another Ramirez, White Sox designated hitter Alexei, had a big day with two singles and a double in four at-bats. Corky Miller and shortstop Gordon Beckham slugged solo home runs -- Beckham's second of the spring after he was selected No. 8 overall by Chicago in last year's amateur draft.
"He's playing pretty good defense and he's swinging the bat with some pop," said White Sox coach Joey Cora, who managed the split squad. "He's out there playing like he belongs and he's opening eyes, no doubt about it. Tomorrow he's playing second so we can see as much of him as possible."
Doug Mientkiewicz hit a two-run homer for the Dodgers. Paul's solo shot in the eighth pulled them to 4-3.
Notes
With Ramirez, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier set as starters in the outfield, the Dodgers are looking to deal veteran Juan Pierre, who has three years remaining on his five-year, $44 million deal. ... Torre said LHP Hong-Chih Kuo and RHP Jason Schmidt threw batting practice, pushing back their spring debuts by another four to five days. ... 2B Orlando Hudson was back in the lineup after sitting out Wednesday with a sore wrist and made a spectacular play up the middle to rob Brian Myrow in the second inning. ... Dodgers LHP Eric Milton, on the comeback trail from Tommy John surgery after missing 2008, was tagged for six hits, three for extra bases, and three runs in two innings. ... Beckham hit the first home run in the ballpark's history on Sunday, also against the Dodgers.
