For Openers, Braves Close Out Dodgers in 10th

Kent Mercker, a relief pitcher who’s never had a hit in the major leagues, drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk from Jim Gott in the 10th inning, forcing in the winning run as the Atlanta Braves beat the Dodgers, 3-2, Friday night in the opener of a doubleheader.

Mercker (4-3), zero-for-two this season and hitless in six at-bats in three years in the majors, got his first big-league run batted in when a 3-and-2 pitch by Gott (1-2) sailed high and outside, forcing home Ron Gant.

The Dodgers were one out away from winning when the Braves tied it, 2-2, on a two-out RBI single by Terry Pendleton off Gott in the ninth. Kevin Gross got the first two outs, but two walks set the table for Pendleton.

Stan Javier put the Dodgers in front in the top of the ninth with his first homer of the season, a drive over the left-field fence off Juan Berenguer.

The Braves took a 1-0 lead off Bob Ojeda in the third when Otis Nixon singled with one out, stole second and third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Lonnie Smith. Nixon, who had three hits, leads the NL with 38 stolen bases.

Braves’ left-hander Steve Avery blanked the Dodgers on two hits and had retired 16 consecutive batters before Gary Carter opened the eighth with a single. Pinch-runner Jose Gonzalez was sacrificed to second, took third on a groundout and scored on pinch-hitter Mike Sharperson’s two-out single to center.