Unfortunately for Jones, 31, a five-time All-Star who has won 10 straight Gold Gloves, his run of good health ended when he was placed on the 15-day disabled list May 25 with torn cartilage in his right knee.

Jones, who was off to a terrible start with the Dodgers -- hitting .165 (22-for-133) with two home runs and seven RBIs in 43 games -- underwent knee surgery May 27 and started his first major league rehabilitation assignment Monday with the 51s at Cashman Field.

If two games are any indication, Jones, a .261 career hitter with 370 homers, appears to be close to regaining his top form.

He started at designated hitter for Las Vegas on Monday and homered over the left-field wall in his second at-bat.

Starting at his customary spot in center field Tuesday, Jones went 3-for-3 with two sharp RBI singles and an infield hit. He also stole a base.

"It's just good to come out and get some at-bats," Jones said before the game. "I've been working on stuff when I was gone, and it's good to see it pay off.

"The DL was to repair something, and I think it made (my knee) stronger, and now I'm ready to start playing."

The plan is for Jones to return after the All-Star break, but he has other things in mind.

"I'm trying to think about pushing it and coming back this weekend," he said. "We'll see how it goes these few days and go from there."

Despite hitting a career-low .222 with the Atlanta Braves last season and getting off to a disastrous start this year -- the first of a two-year, $36.2 million deal with the Dodgers -- Jones wouldn't use the knee injury as an excuse for his subpar play.

"I just had a bad start. I can't make excuses," he said.

Jones did say, when he was at the plate earlier this season, "I didn't have any balance on my back leg, but when I was out, I was working on it and trying to correct it."

He also said he has played through pain in the past.

"You don't put your mind on it, because normally you play with injuries," he said. "But it just got my attention and started hurting and bothering me a lot, so I went to get it checked and they found something in there."

• NOTES -- Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal suffered a setback in his rehabilitation from a strained lower back. After going 1-for-3 with a double and playing four innings for the 51s on Monday, Furcal was scratched from Tuesday's lineup and headed back to Los Angeles to get re-evaluated. ...

Los Angeles infielder Nomar Garciaparra had no setbacks in his rehab from a strained left calf. He started at shortstop Tuesday and went 2-for-3 with two sharp singles and two runs scored in five innings. ...

Dodgers right-hander Jason Schmidt threw a bullpen session at Cashman Field on Monday and is to throw 55 pitches Thursday in his second rehab start for the 51s.