Braves to Dodgers: Just Relax

The Atlanta Braves, the class of the National League, can’t understand all of this commotion and anxiety in the Dodger clubhouse.

The Braves have had their horrid hitting slumps. They’ve had their losing streaks. They’ve wondered if they would ever win a game.

So there’s no reason the Dodgers should be panicking, the Braves say, simply because they went through a stretch of losing seven of eight games before winning Tuesday night, 6-2.

“Believe me, we’ve all been through it,” Braves first baseman Fred McGriff said, “so those guys shouldn’t be panicking. It doesn’t make sense. That’s a good club on paper, a real good club. Talent always rises to the top in a long season, anyway.

“I can’t see them not making the playoffs, I really can’t.”

When told the Dodgers say it’s difficult because of the lofty expectations, McGriff winced.

“If they’re feeling the pressure now because they’re favored to win their division,” McGriff said, “tell them to come over here and see how it feels. You’re expected every year not only to make the playoffs, but win the World Series.”

The key to ending a slump, the Braves advise, simply is attitude.

“We’ve gone through a lot worse times than the Dodgers,” Braves shortstop Jeff Blauser said. “But we always played with confidence, we never panicked. Part of that is always playing in the post-season. We know how to win, and believe me, that makes a big difference.”

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Perhaps the most overlooked and most critical moment of the game occurred in the sixth inning with the Dodgers clinging to a 4-2 lead.

Tom Candiotti, who has held Jeff Blauser to a career .130 batting average, was brought in from the bullpen in place of reliever Scott Radinsky. Candiotti walked Blauser, loading the bases for left-handed pinch-hitter Keith Lockhart.

“I didn’t even know who he was when he walked up there,” Candiotti said. “I never heard of him.

Lockhart, who was traded from the Kansas City Royals to the Braves in March, stayed patient. Candiotti fell behind, 2-and-0, and was in huge jam. He took a gamble and threw a curveball for strike 1. Lockhart then swung and hit a routine grounder to second baseman Wilton Guerrero, ending the threat.

“Thank God for the curveball,” Candiotti said.

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Dodger starter Chan Ho Park, who will be in the rotation for good, had a strong outing in which he yielded only two hits and one run in five innings for his first victory.

“Last night, I was a little nervous watching the Braves [win 14-0 on Monday],” Park said. “That’s a good team with good hitters. I think I was more worried watching the final four innings on TV.”

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There was a good reason the Dodgers were baffled by Braves starter Tom Glavine in the 14-0 shelling, producing just three hits in seven innings off the former Cy Young winner.

Glavine, knowing that the Dodgers were expecting him to rely on his nasty change-up, instead threw a whopping 61 fastballs--45 for strikes.

The result was seven strikeouts and only four fly-ball outs.

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Infielder Paul Konerko, the Dodgers’ top prospect who was batting .405 at triple-A Albuquerque suffered a cracked bone in his left wrist and is on the seven-day disabled list. The Dodgers are hoping he’ll be able to return next week.