Dodgers place Juan Pierre on the DL

HOUSTON – The Dodgers’ crowded disabled list grew again this afternoon when the team placed outfielder Juan Pierre on the DL with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee.

Pierre, who has never before been on the DL in a nine-year big-league career, hurt his knee when Angel shortstop Erick Aybar fell on him after Pierre stole second base in the sixth inning of Sunday’s game at Dodger Stadium.

Pierre was removed from the game and early today had an MRI, which showed the sprain. He won’t be eligible to be reactivated until after the All-Star break. Pierre, who is hitting .277, ranks second in the National League with 35 stolen bases. He joins Rafael Furcal, Andruw Jones, Nomar Garciaparra on the DL, meaning half the starting lineup the Dodgers were counting on in spring training is now on the shelf.

Also on the DL are catcher Gary Bennett and pitchers Scott Proctor and Jason Schmidt.

Jason Repko was called up from Triple A Las Vegas to take Pierre’s place. Repko batting .277 in 74 Pacific Coast League games. But he was hitting .375 in June.

 kevin.baxter@latimes.com