In Long Run, Dodgers Fall Short

Mike Mordecai and Ryan Klesko hit RBI singles off surprise reliever Ramon Martinez in the 18th inning Saturday, lifting the Atlanta Braves over the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-3.

In the longest major league game by innings this season, Los Angeles manager Bill Russell was forced to use Martinez (8-5) when he ran out of relievers in the 15th. Martinez, who pitched seven shutout innings on Wednesday against Florida, went four innings in his first relief appearance since Oct. 2, 1988.

Brad Woodall (1-2), Atlanta’s eighth pitcher, worked 2 2-3 innings for the win, ending the 5-hour, 5-minute game.

Dodgers starter Ismael Valdes and five relievers combined to no-hit the Braves from the seventh until the 16th -- a span of 27 outs -- before Pablo Martinez led off the 16th with his first major-league hit, a single off Ramon Martinez.

Mark Wohlers, trying to protect a 3-2 lead for Greg Maddux, surrendered a two-out triple to Raul Mondesi and an RBI single by Wayne Kirby in the ninth that tied it 3-3. Maddux allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings.