LOS ANGELES • Rafael Furcal had a pinch-hit, RBI single in the eighth inning Wednesday, helping the Dodgers beat the Colorado Rockies 1-0 in the final game of Manny Ramirez’s 50-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s drug policy.

Brad Ausmus led off the eighth with a single against Rockies starter Jason Hammel (5-4) and advanced on Juan Castro’s sacrifice. Russell Martin ran for Ausmus and scored when Furcal stroked a single to right field on the right-hander’s 100th pitch.

“One run can do it,” said Hammel, who was 5-0 over his previous seven starts. “That’s baseball. I made a good pitch.”

Hammel pitched a career-high eight innings for his first complete game. It came in his 41st big league start. He allowed five hits and struck out five.

Ramon Troncoso (2-0) pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the win and Jonathan Broxton pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 19th save in 20 attempts.

Clayton Kershaw allowed only one hit over five innings and threw 97 pitches. Kershaw struck out five and issued a season-high five walks — the ninth time in 16 starts this season that he’s given up at least four bases on balls. In his past 12 outings, however, his ERA is only 2.29.

Brad Hawpe’s two-out double in the first inning was Colorado’s only hit until Ian Stewart doubled with two outs in the seventh. Paul Phillips was intentionally walked to bring up Hammel, whose bid for a tiebreaking RBI double was caught at the edge of the warning track in right-center.

The Dodgers opened the season 21-8 and were on a seven-game winning streak with a 6½-game lead in the division when Ramirez was suspended May 7 for using a banned substance.

Los Angeles was 29-21 during Ramirez’s absence.

“I’m not surprised by what they’ve done in his absence — not with the addition of Orlando Hudson and what he’s meant to their infield defense, the professional they have at third base in Casey Blake and the kind of year that Andre Ethier is having,” Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. “They’re a very talented team with a tremendous amount of athleticism, but the biggest thing has been the improvement of their bullpen.”

Center fielder Matt Kemp is excited for Ramirez’s return: “We get a great hitter back, somebody that can help us drive in some runs and get some things going.”

Dodgers manager Joe Torre doesn’t expect Ramirez to make an immediate impact.

“It’s still going to take him some time to settle in, but I think it’ll help everybody else, too,” Torre said. “I’m going to get the same player back. I mean, I think his ability goes far beyond what caused the suspension. But it’s going to take some time for him to get in game shape and for him to get comfortable.”

Juan Pierre, who has started every game in left field during Manny’s absence, will return to being a part-time player despite hitting .318 with 21 RBIs, 31 runs scored, 15 walks and 21 stolen bases.

“Juan came in and did an excellent job,” Kemp said. “He’s an All-Star in my book. If it wasn’t for what he’s done for our team, we wouldn’t be in this position right now.”

Notes
After the game, the Rockies reinstated catcher Yorvit Torrealba from the restricted list. To make room for Torrealba on the active roster, catcher Paul Phillips was designated for assignment. … The Dodgers are 10-2 against Colorado and have clinched the season series with six games remaining. It’s the third time in four seasons that they’ve beaten the Rockies at least 10 times, and they’re 41-26 against them since the start of 2006. … Colorado has played more road games (46) than any team.