"Rafael Furcal was not at Dodger Stadium on Saturday. Instead, he rested at home after receiving a cortisone shot and an MRI for his strained back in the morning. The results of the MRI showed no changes from the first MRI the Dodgers shortstop received when he was initially hurt, after an awkward twist in the field on Aug. 2. The cortisone shot, applied to a specific part of the spine, also went well. "It's very nice that you have the right spot and the injection went where you wanted," team trainer Stan Conte said. Before the cortisone is injected, a numbing agent is administered, and if the numbing agent is in the appropriate spot, the pain disappears immediately. It takes several days for the cortisone to take effect. In Furcal's case, the shot appeared to find the right location: He was at home resting and feeling great, said Conte, who texted him."