HOUSTON — Nearly two months after going on the disabled list and two days after making his first minor league rehab start, Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal is right back where he started — in pain and in doubt as to when he will play again.

Furcal went four innings at shortstop for triple-A Las Vegas on Monday, doubling and driving in a run in three at-bats in his first game since May 5. But when he woke Tuesday with discomfort, he was immediately called back to Los Angeles, where he will be examined today by Dr. Robert Watkins.

"Obviously it's not good news," Manager Joe Torre said. "He felt so good about himself. With all this exercise program he was on. I'm sure for him it's really frustrating."

Furcal, who missed the final two weeks last season with a sore back, played just 32 games this year before going to the sidelines with the same problem. He was leading the team in several categories, including average (.366) and runs (34), and the Dodgers were four games above .500 when he went out.

But they've gone 21-30 since then, averaging 3.3 runs a game.

Nomar Garciaparra, who is also on rehab assignment at Las Vegas with a sore calf, replaced Furcal at shortstop and went 2 for 3 and scored twice Tuesday. Barring a setback he could be with the Dodgers this weekend in San Francisco.

Andruw Jones, who underwent knee surgery in May, joined Garciaparra in the 51s' lineup and went 3 for 3 with a pair of RBI.

Hiroki Kuroda is expected to come off the disabled list and make his first start since June 12 on Wednesday night, while Brad Penny, who threw 50 pitches to hitters in a three-inning simulated game at Houston's Minute Maid Park on Tuesday, is on track to rejoin the Dodgers rotation Saturday in San Francisco.

And Jason Schmidt, who hasn't pitched for the Dodgers in more than a year, is scheduled to throw 60 pitches for Las Vegas on Thursday and could rejoin the team around the end of July.