VERO BEACH, Fla. -- As he unveiled his batting order for Thursday's Grapefruit League opener, manager Joe Torre tried to leave himself some wiggle room.

"Three, four and five you can throw them all in a hat," Torre said of catcher Russell Martin, second baseman Jeff Kent and center fielder Andruw Jones. "Opening Day lineups are noteworthy, but you can change it the second day."

Nonetheless, Torre had Kent in his customary cleanup spot for the game against the Braves, sandwiched between Martin and Jones. Torre earlier had said left fielder Juan Pierre would bat leadoff and shortstop Rafael Furcal second, flopping the order former manager Grady Little used last year. Martin batted sixth most of last season.

Torre then batted first baseman James Loney sixth, third baseman Nomar Garciaparra seventh and right fielder Matt Kemp eighth. Most of Loney's at-bats last year came in the seventh spot. Garciaparra hit mostly third, but was more productive while batting fifth. Kemp hit primarily in the third spot last year, but was most productive hitting eighth.

Regardless of where they hit, said Torre, he won't tell a player to change his batting style.

"If you stick Loney or Kemp leadoff, for example, that doesn't mean they should take pitches," the manager said. "Wherever you hit, you hit."

Furcal hit and ran, turning a first-inning gapper into a triple with the kind of speed he couldn't show last year because of an ankle sprain that never healed.

"Last year, I hit that ball and it's a double and I'm limping," said a pleased Furcal. "It bothered me last year when I hit and when I played defense. Now it's 100 percent."

Loney and Kemp each went 2-for-3. Sub starter Jason Johnson pitched two scoreless innings with one hit allowed. Tanyon Sturtze, Mike Myers, Brian Falkenborg, Mike Koplove and Eric Hull each pitched a hitless inning.

Running wild: The new staff has spent considerable time on fundamental baserunning, and learned in the exhibition opener that there's more work to do.

Kemp, plagued all last year on the bases, slid headfirst into third base, only to find Loney already standing on it. Martin tried to steal second base, only to be doubled off first on Kent's lineout to right. Chin-lung Hu was caught stealing second with no outs and runners on first and second. And Jason Repko was racing home even after John Lindsey's ninth-inning two-run single had already won the game.

"Right now, there's uncontrolled aggressiveness," said third-base coach Larry Bowa. "I like to give them 10 games. If it doesn't improve after that, the meetings won't be as calm or cool. Coming in, we knew it was an area we needed to work on."

No issues for Billingsley: Pitcher Chad Billingsley, scratched from Thursday's scheduled exhibition start as a precaution because of a tight groin muscle, instead threw 45 pitches in a two-inning simulated Minor League game and reported no problems.

"It felt good, no aggravation," Billingsley said of his right groin muscle, which tightened a week ago while he pitched batting practice. "We're just being cautious with it because I've had it before, and if it gets really bad, it can affect your whole career."

Billingsley has not missed any throwing this spring. He expects to throw in a bullpen session on Saturday and make his exhibition game debut Monday.

"He looks comfortable to me," said Torre. "I'm glad I'm sitting here and not hitting against him."

More issues for Schmidt: Jason Schmidt missed his second day of tossing after reporting a fatigued arm during a Tuesday bullpen session, but Torre said Schmidt was expected to resume tossing on Friday.

"He's hit a little bit of a wall," Torre said of Schmidt, who is returning from shoulder surgery. "The trainers don't feel it's anything to concern themselves with. He came in and said he felt good today."

Utilizing Young: Bowa said he's been impressed with the play at second base of Delwyn Young, who is working again in the infield after being moved to the outfield two years ago. Young is out of options, and the club likes his bat so much, it seems intent on making him too useful to lose.

"Everybody says he can't play there, but I like the way he approaches the game," Bowa said.

Hiro has left the building: Hiroki Kuroda, Friday's starting pitcher, had an even tougher assignment Thursday when it was his turn to perform in Dodger Idol.

Kuroda took it as seriously as an Elvis impersonator can. In full Elvis white-on-white costume, including wig and chest hair, Kuroda dazzled his new teammates by singing "Love Me Tender," featuring a guest appearance on acoustic guitar by Joe Beimel.

"If he was nervous, he didn't show it," said Torre, who now has seen Kuroda compete on stage, but not yet on the field. "That could bode well for him on the mound."

More signings: The Dodgers signed Billingsley, Andre Ethier, Martin, Loney, Hong-Chih Kuo and Andy LaRoche to one-year contracts. Martin, coming off an award-winning season, received a raise from $387,500 to $500,000.

Up next: Furcal will make the trip to Lake Buena Vista, Fla., to play in Saturday's game against Atlanta, but fellow former Brave Andruw Jones will not make the drive. In addition to Furcal, the Dodgers lineup will include Loney, Kemp, Ethier and LaRoche. The Braves will start Jair Jurrjens, and also are expected to throw former Dodger Buddy Carlyle.