Braves Get 18 Hits in a 9-2 Rout of Dodgers

Ken Oberkfell went 4 for 5 and drove in three runs to lead an 18-hit attack as the Atlanta Braves defeated the Dodgers, 9-2, Thursday to snap a five-game losing streak.

The Atlanta offense helped Zane Smith (3-3) gain his first victory since May 2 and end his string of five consecutive no-decision outings. He missed three starts with arm ailments. Smith also had two hits and scored twice. Every Atlanta starter had at least one hit.

Smith gave up seven hits, walked three and struck out two in seven innings. Juan Eichelberger and Paul Assenmacher finished up.

The Braves took a 3-1 lead in the second with five hits off Ken Howell (0-1), who was making his first start in the majors since undergoing shoulder surgery last October.

Ozzie Virgil had an RBI double in the second, and Ron Gant and Oberkfell hit run-scoring singles.

Atlanta made it 7-1 in the fourth on Gerald Perry’s run-scoring single, a two-run single by Dion James, who had three hits, and a passed ball by catcher Mike Scioscia.

Oberkfell had a two-run double in the fifth.

Mike Marshall hit his eighth home run of the year leading off the Los Angeles sixth and also drove in a first-inning run with an infield grounder after singles by Steve Sax and Mickey Hatcher.