Lockhart’s Hit Beats Giants, 4-3

Michael Tucker homered twice and Keith Lockhart hit a run-scoring single against Robb Nen with two out in the ninth as the Atlanta Braves beat the San Francisco Giants, 4-3, Saturday night.

“All I know is Nen throws hard,” said Lockhart, whose hit to right field scored Curtis Pride. “It was a slider, down and in, and I slapped at it. That’s about all you can do with that pitch.”

The Braves have won five in a row, nine of 11 and 14 of 17. The Giants have lost three straight and 14 of 17 against the Braves. The Giants are 3-18 in Atlanta during the last three years.

With one out in the ninth, Nen (3-1) walked pinch-hitter Pride, who stole second. After Walt Weiss struck out, Lockhart lined an 0-1 pitch down the right field line to give the Braves their fifth win in their last at-bat.

Kerry Ligtenberg (3-1) got out of a first-and-third, one-out jam in the ninth by getting pinch-hitter Chris Jones to fly out to shallow right and Bill Mueller to fly out.

Tucker doubled and scored in the second, tied the score, 2-2 with a leadoff homer in the fourth and put the Braves ahead with another homer in the sixth.

Tucker, who had the second multihomer game of his career, also homered as a pinch-hitter Friday night. The Braves, who have a league-leading 46 homers, have connected in 14 consecutive games, six short of the team record set in 1973.

Atlanta’s Andres Galarraga singled in his first two at-bats, giving him seven hits in seven at-bats in three games. He reached nine consecutive times, including two walks, before Mark Gardner struck him out in the fifth.

Brave starter John Smoltz, 11-13 against the Giants, allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings. He hasn’t defeated San Francisco since April 24, 1996.

Brave closer Mark Wohlers got one out in the ninth before leaving because of a strained muscle.

Gardner, who has given up eight homers in his last five starts, allowed three runs and nine hits in six-plus innings.

NEXT SERIES FOR DODGERS

WHO: Atlanta Braves

WHERE: at Atlanta

WHEN: Monday, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, 10 a.m.