Andre

Ethier

Ethier just refuses to go into even a modest slump. He hit .324 in May after being called up, .344 in June and .362 in July. He’s 9-for-21 with five RBI so far this month.

Ethier also went 5-for-5 with a homer on Friday, so he’s making up for an 8-for-36 start in the big leagues. Ethier has started both games since Kenny Lofton has returned from an injury, but he’ll have to battle Jose Cruz Jr. for playing time until Jason Repko returns. Because of an impressive series against the Angels, the rookie will probably get a few more starts before he sits in favor of Cruz.

The Dodgers delivered 25 hits and scored nine runs in the sixth inning. Every member of the starting lineup except Aaron Sele had at least two hits. Ethier entered with a .222 average and two RBI in 36 at-bats since being called up on May 2. He even collected an outfield assist in a game that he may not have started if not for an injury to Kenny Lofton.

Ethier is batting .313 with four homers and 12 RBI in 67 at-bats since being called up. That the Dodgers have another youngster in Matt Kemp battling for time in left field has cut into his fantasy value, but he is worth using in NL-only leagues.

Ethier had been in a 1-for-17 slump. The triple was his sixth in 94 games this season, and he’s now up to 51 RBI.

He had a two-run triple, a bases-loaded walk and an RBI groundout. Ethier’s recent hot streak is going to keep Matt Kemp and Jose Cruz Jr. out of the lineup against right-handers.

Ethier had started 70 of the past 73 games, and had appears in every game since June 16, but stuck in a 1-for-11 skid, he got a rest from manager Grady Little. “He’s been kind of sluggish the last day or two,” Little said. “We have to remind ourselves he’s a rookie. He’s not used to playing this time of year.” Ethier leads all rookies in hitting this season.

He finishes the year with a .292/.368/.421 batting line to go along with 11 homers, 62 RBI and a .789 OPS over 551 plate appearances. The Dodgers could shop him over the offseason when he proves healthy from surgery. As for the remainder of this season, Juan Rivera, Tony Gwynn Jr. and Jerry Sands will see plenty of time in Ethier’s place.

The 35-minute procedure was designed to clean up the wear and tear behind Ethier’s right kneecap, and it did that successfully. Now it’s on to the rehab and recovery process. Ethier, 29, batted .292/.368/.421 with 11 homers and 62 RBI in 135 games this season for Los Angeles.

He has hit safely in eight of 10 spring games and is hitting .455/.500/1.045. The big question this season will be whether his power stroke returns, as he smacked only 11 four-baggers in 2011 after averaging nearly 25 in each of the previous three years.