Based on recent performances that have left Manager Joe Torre impressed, Andre Ethier appears to have worked his way back as one of the Dodgers' starting outfielders.

Ethier hasn't had much to say regarding the perceived injustice of his sitting as part of a four-man and now five-man rotation of outfielders. Instead, the 26-year-old prefers to release any pent-up frustration he might using a different method.

"You beat the (stuffing) out of your Rock Band drums," Ethier said, referring to the video game.

Ethier tripled and scored the Dodgers' first run Sunday and later cut the Giants' lead with a run-scoring single. The previous night, he tripled and might have had another extra-base hit had an umpire not incorrectly ruled that his fly ball didn't catch the chalk of the left-field line.

"He gives you a little more pop," Torre said. "He's easy to watch right now."

Said Ethier: "I'm more focused on what can I do in the situation that's presented at me."

What Ethier cannot control is Torre leaving him out of the lineup when either Andruw Jones or Juan Pierre start in center field resulting in shifting Matt Kemp to right field and Ethier to the bench.

"You want to lash out and say something, but that's a rash decision to come out and say something," Ethier said. "I could have been emotional and rash and said something, but I took a step back. You know your place and know your role."

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