Manny Ramirez homers again for Dodgers in 4-1 win over Cardinals

ST. LOUIS – Manny Ramirez hit his fourth home run in seven games for the Dodgers, who beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 4-1, at Busch Stadium today.

Left-hander Clayton Kershaw walked four batters, but managed his pitch count well enough to last a career-high seven innings. The 20-year-old Kershaw, who didn’t win a game in the first of his two major-league call-ups this season, won for the second time in three starts.

Kershaw (2-3) limited the Cardinals to one run and three hits. He issued four walks, two to Albert Pujols.

Cardinals starter Kyle Lohse (13-4) was denied a career-high tying 14th victory.

Lohse walked Ramirez in the first inning with Jeff Kent on second to face James Loney, but the tactic backfired when Loney singled to left to score Kent.

Ramirez increased the Dodgers’ lead to 3-0 in the third when he crushed a down-the-middle fastball into the seats in left-center for a two-run home run.

Juan Pierre, who didn’t start in the first two games of the series, tripled into the right-field corner in the fourth to drive in Danny Ardoin.

Jonathan Broxton earned his sixth save in six chances since replacing the injured Takashi Saito as the Dodgers’ closer.

Schmidt a ‘longshot’

Jason Schmidt is expected to throw a bullpen session this week as part of a late-ditch effort to be part of the Dodgers’ playoff push, but Manager Joe Torre admitted in a pre-game chat with reporters that it would be a “longshot” for the former All-Star to pitch in the majors this season.

“A lot would have to happen in a hurry for him to pitch for us at this level,” Torre said.

Torre said the rehabilitation process will last until the second week of September – and that’s if Schmidt doesn’t have any more setbacks.

Schmidt, who is in the second year of a three-year, $47-million contract, pitched in his last major league game almost 14 months ago, as his 2006 season was cut short by major shoulder surgery. He pitched in only six games for the Dodgers last season, posting a 1-4 record and 6.31 earned-run average.

Schmidt had promising bullpen sessions early in spring training, but has since suffered several setbacks. He went on two rehab assignments, but the last of his four starts in the minors was on July 13.

 Dylan.hernandez@latimes.com