Ledee Doesn’t Let the Pain Stop Him

CHICAGO —  Ricky Ledee played through the pain without a peep once again.

The veteran outfielder has a nagging hamstring injury he seems to aggravate every time he runs from first to third or chases a ball near the foul line. But he never complains or asks for a day off.

No one who watched Ledee make an outstanding over-the-shoulder catch of Nomar Garciaparra’s drive in the sixth inning Tuesday night would know he is hurting. But watching him limp through the clubhouse with a large ice bag strapped to his leg, there is no doubt he is paying a price for every inning he plays.

The hamstring is injured where it meets the back of the knee.

“It hurts, of course it does,” Ledee said, shrugging.

Manager Jim Tracy will give him today off because the Dodgers face left-handed starter Glendon Rusch. But the next time a right-hander faces them, Ledee probably will be batting fourth or fifth, trying to give Jeff Kent some protection.

Ledee is batting .291 with seven home runs and 32 runs batted in, solid production from a player brought in primarily to pinch-hit.

“I want to play, and I also know my role,” he said. “I will do whatever the manager wants.”

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Dr. Stephen Lombardo will perform knee surgery on outfielder Milton Bradley, General Manager Paul DePodesta said. Lombardo has been the Laker team physician since 1974.

“We don’t have a date,” DePodesta said. “We expect it to be soon.”

Bradley suffered a torn patella tendon in his left knee running to first base Aug. 22. DePodesta said he has not spoken to Bradley in several days.

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Outfielder J.D. Drew, who broke his wrist on July 3, took another small step forward, taking two sets of 20 swings off a tee. It remains unclear when he could be activated.

“No timetable whatsoever has been suggested to me,” Tracy said. “If he comes back it will be a bonus for us.”

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A Red Cross disaster relief fund collection to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina will be held at Dodger Stadium today. Collection booths for financial donations will be located at the Elysian Park Avenue gate from 5 a.m. until 6 p.m. The Dodgers will give the first 500 people who make donations two tickets to an upcoming game against Colorado.