LOS ANGELES (AP) – Mark Sweeney doubled home the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Boston Red Sox 3-1 Friday night in the opener of a three-game series that will include a nostalgic evening at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum.

Sweeney doubled off Lincoln Holdzkom to score Andre Ethier, who had drawn a leadoff walk. James Loney followed with an RBI single.

Scott Proctor, reunited this season with former Yankees manager Joe Torre, pitched a perfect eighth inning for the win and Jonathan Broxton pitched a perfect ninth for his first spring save.

Dodgers second baseman Jeff Kent returned to the lineup for the first time since pulling his right hamstring on March 5. He played five innings and doubled home the game’s first run in the fourth off Bartolo Colon.

“I still need some time – but I need to play, too. You try to get the best of both worlds in a short period of time, and today was OK,” Kent said. “I feel like I have a little more in the leg, but I didn’t want to use it tonight. I definitely was in a protection mode.

“I needed to get some at-bats, see some pitches on defense and then walk out of there without having it re-injured. And I was able to do that tonight,” Kent added. “There’s still a play or two that might limit me out there, but I haven’t challenged myself enough to find out what that is yet. Come opening day or the first week of the season, I might find out what that is.”

Los Angeles starter Chad Billingsley allowed a run and two hits over five innings with seven strikeouts and three walks.

Colon threw 60 pitches over four innings, allowing a run and three hits with four strikeouts. He has allowed six earned runs over 6 2-3 innings in his three spring appearances.

“His arm strength has been good,” manager Terry Francona said. “We’ve been really pleased with the way things have gone so far. He’s only up to 60-65 pitches so he’s got a little ways to go. We’re hoping that he can help us. There’s no reason to think he won’t.”

Dodgers third baseman Nomar Garciaparra, who broke a bone in his right-hand on March 7 when he was hit by a pitch from St. Louis’ Kyle McClellan, saw a therapist Friday afternoon. He is expected to start the season on the disabled list.

“Our rosters have to be in by tomorrow night, and he’s still uncomfortable,” Torre said. “Until that discomfort leaves, he’s really not going to be able to take batting practice. And that has to start before you can think about playing in a game.”

Backup third baseman Andy LaRoche, who tore a ligament in his right thumb the same day Garciaparra was injured and had to undergo surgery, expects to have his cast removed on Tuesday. Tony Abreu also will start the season on the DL because of a sore groin, so 22-year-old Blake DeWitt appears to be the logical choice to start at third on opening day against San Francisco.

“Right now, Blake DeWitt looks like a good option. He really hasn’t done anything wrong, in my mind,” Torre said. “I haven’t seen him as much as my coaches who didn’t make the China trip, but it’s just the way he carries himself. He’s done some things that have been impressive.”

Notes: Former big league INF Billy Consolo, who went straight from high school to the majors in 1953 when he signed with the Red Sox, died at his home in Westlake Village, Calif., of an apparent heart attack at age 73. He played in Boston for seven seasons.

… The Red Sox, who opened their regular-season schedule with two games against Oakland at Tokyo, have 14 extra players for this exhibition series with the Dodgers. … The Red Sox got down to the 25-man roster limit by putting right-hander Mike Timlin on the 15-day DL, retroactive to March 20, because of a laceration on his right ring finger. They also assigned right-handers Kyle Jackson and Edgar Martinez outright to Triple-A Pawtucket.

AP-ES-03-29-08 0157EDT