Dodgers Nowhere Near Atlanta, 7-0

The Dodgers arrived here excited about their recent play and eager to measure themselves against the National League’s premier team.

They left town knowing where they stand--but that isn’t a good thing.

Powered by a typically dominant performance Wednesday afternoon by starter Greg Maddux, the Braves defeated the Dodgers, 7-0, to complete a three-game sweep before 38,637 at Turner Field.

The four-time Cy Young Award winner befuddled the Dodgers through seven innings, and a leadoff home run by Chipper Jones in the fourth provided all the support Maddux (4-2) and reliever Mike Cather would need. But they got even more against Darren Dreifort (0-3), who is struggling to establish himself as a starter.

The Dodgers contributed to the Braves’ attack by committing three errors, hitting two batters and throwing a wild pitch. Manager Bill Russell had his choice of players to criticize, but he chose diplomacy.

“You can’t give this team anything when you face them because they’re not going to give you anything,” he said. “You have to play smart and make the most of your opportunities, and we didn’t do that [in the series].”

The Dodgers had won eight of 11 games but failed repeatedly in key situations against the Braves. They had only seven hits Wednesday as they dropped back to .500 at 16-16.

“It’s only May, but this shows us we still have a lot of work to do,” second baseman Eric Young said. “Even though the Braves didn’t win [the World Series] last year, they play with that confidence. They always seem to do a lot with their opportunities.”

And the Dodgers?

“We had our chances in the other games, we had the right people up there at the right times, and we just didn’t capitalize,” Russell said. “Then Maddux got the lead today, and you know what can happen when he does.”

Maddux gave up five hits in seven innings, lowering his earned-run average to 2.14. He threw 60 strikes in 85 pitches, striking out five without a walk.

He also improved to 8-3 with a 2.24 ERA in 19 games against the Dodgers. Cather gave up two hits in the final two innings, and struck out Todd Zeile with runners at second and third to end the game.

“You know what to expect from Maddux,” Russell said. “And when you’re facing a guy like that, you know you can’t make mistakes, because he makes good hitters look bad all the time.”

Dreifort hasn’t achieved that consistency yet.

He gave up five earned runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings, which raised his ERA from 3.26 to 4.15. He threw 74 pitches, 50 strikes, and struck out four without a walk.

But Jones led off the fourth with his 11th homer, and Michael Tucker hit a one-out, two-run homer--his eighth homer and sixth in six games--to give the Braves a 3-0 lead.

The Braves chased Dreifort in the fifth. He hit two batters and gave up a single to load the bases, and was removed after Andres Galarraga’s two-run single gave the Braves a 5-0 lead.

Dreifort hasn’t pitched more than 5 1/3 innings in his four starts. Again, the converted reliever said fatigue isn’t an issue.

“I felt great when I was throwing in my last start, and I felt great again today,” he said. “The pitch Jones hit was a bad pitch, but the pitch Tucker hit was a good pitch.

“I get grounders on that ball 95% of the time, but it just didn’t happen today. But this is a long season, and we have a long way to go before I start worrying about wins.”

But the Dodgers are concerned about Dreifort.

“Darren Dreifort cares and Darren Dreifort is a competitor, but maybe he goes out there and tries to take on a little too much responsibility,” pitching coach Glenn Gregson said. “It was a 1-0 game in the fourth, and he was trying to pick us up, and he made some pitches he shouldn’t have.

“But Darren has got nasty stuff, and he’s a competitor. If I’m going to war, I want Darren Dreifort on my side.”

But is Dreifort best suited to start?

“We haven’t discussed that yet,” Russell said. “Right now, he’s going to pitch in five days.”