Dodgers Trim Deficit to 4 1/2 : Baseball: Neidlinger gives up only a run and four hits in seven innings in a 6-2 victory over the Braves.

Dodger Manager Tommy Lasorda says now is the time that all you can do is “hope and pray.”

On Tuesday it worked.

Lasorda got a fine performance from rookie right-hander Jim Neidlinger, and Kal Daniels doubled home two runs and scored two as the Dodgers again crept within 4 1/2 games of Cincinnati in the National League West by defeating the Atlanta Braves, 6-2.

The Dodgers, who had narrowed a 13-game deficit to 4 1/2 before losing to Cincinnati on Sunday, picked up a game on the Reds, who lost to San Francisco, 5-3. The Reds have 15 games remaining, the Dodgers 14.

“In the situation we’re in, you’ve got to win and get help from somebody else,” Lasorda said after the Dodgers won for the fifth time in their last six games. “If you’re playing the Podunk Yanks you’ve got to win. You can’t split. If there were a month or a month-and-a-half to go it would be different.”

Daniels, who had three hits in Monday night’s 5-2 victory, extended his hitting streak to seven games with his first-inning double that scored Lenny Harris and Stan Javier, both of whom singled off Braves rookie Paul Marak (0-2).

Daniels, who has has 20 RBIs in his last 12 games, took third on a single by Eddie Murray, who had three hits for the second straight game, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Hubie Brooks before a crowd of only 3,891.

Neidlinger (5-1) stopped the Braves on a run and four hits, including Jeff Blauser’s sixth-inning homer, before leaving for a pinch-hitter after seven innings. It was Blauser’s eighth homer.

The Dodgers are 8-2 in Neidlinger’s 10 starts since his recall from triple-A Albuquerque, including eight in a row.

The pressure of the pennant race apparently has no affect on the 25-year-old.

“I look on it as an opportunity to do some things,” he said. “I like the pressure. I think it brings out the best in me. I like to be in these situations.”

“That’s twice Neidlinger has thrown well against us,” said Atlanta Manager Bobby Cox, whose club lost 7-3 to the rookie in his major league debut. “He’s been pitching well against everyone. The Dodgers have a knack of bringing up pitchers who make an impact.”

The Dodgers, who have won five of their last six games, added three more runs in the fifth.

Daniels led off with a walk and took second on Murray’s single. Mike Scioscia grounded to second and Daniels raced home when Murray beat Jeff Treadway’s throw to Blauser and the shortstop argued the call and ignored the runners.

After an intentional walk to Juan Samuel, Jose Offerman singled to score Murray. When the ball went through right fielder Dave Justice’s legs, Samuel also scored.

Jim Gott pitched two innings for the Dodgers.