Dodgers Hang On for the Wild Ride

The Dodgers overcame pitcher Darren Dreifort’s control problems Tuesday night, defeating the Atlanta Braves, 5-4, despite a career-high nine walks by Dreifort at Dodger Stadium.

The right-hander couldn’t find the plate, working 5 1/3 innings despite giving up only two hits before a crowd of 37,717. Dreifort (3-0) won thanks to the strong support of the Dodger bullpen.

Rookie reliever Jamie Arnold gave up only one run after replacing Dreifort with one out and the bases loaded in the sixth. The Braves stranded the tying run at third in the eighth against Onan Masaoka and closer Jeff Shaw.

Shaw earned his fourth save by leaving Chipper Jones at third base in the ninth inning. He sawed off Randall Simon’s bat and made the play at first base by himself to end the game.

Devon White hit a two-run homer and Eric Young had three hits, including a two-run double to break a 2-2 tie in the fourth.

Dodger Manager Davey Johnson benched shortstop Mark Grudzielanek, who has been struggling, and Jose Vizcaino responded with four singles in four at-bats, driving in a run and playing flawlessly in the field.

Dreifort, beginning his second full season in the starting rotation, was coming off one of the best performances in his five-year career.

He pitched seven strong innings Thursday in an 8-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on the road while stopping a three-game losing streak.

But Dreifort struggled in the first two innings Tuesday, and then again in the sixth after settling down in between.

His performance Tuesday was similar to his first outing this season April 9 against the Colorado Rockies. Dreifort matched his career high for the third time with six walks in that game.

On Tuesday, Dreifort was charged with four runs against the Braves, throwing only 49 strikes in 104 pitches.

“When he relaxed and just threw the ball he was fine,” Johnson said of Dreifort. “He only gave up two hits. He just needed to relax out there.”

Dreifort walked three consecutive batters in the sixth, helping the Braves score twice to cut the Dodgers’ lead to 5-4. Johnson removed Dreifort after he walked pinch-hitter Keith Lockhart with the bases full, forcing in a run.

Dreifort was visibly frustrated as he walked into the Dodger dugout. The fans weren’t pleased either, especially when Arnold replaced Dreifort with one out and the bases loaded.

Arnold was promoted from triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday. He played in the Braves’ minor league system for seven seasons before signing with the Dodgers in the off-season, making his major league debut as stressful as possible.

Arnold walked Atlanta leadoff batter Otis Nixon on a full count, forcing in another run, cutting the lead to one. But Bret Boone grounded into a fielder’s choice, and Jones flied out to end the threat.

“Arnold did a great job,” Johnson said. “He was the story to me. He came in in a bases-loaded jam and he allowed me to give Shaw the lead. . . .

“That was our last-ditch effort. Our bullpen is a little short. [Antonio] Osuna is bothered by an elbow. He’s going to have an MRI [today]. The job Arnold did is just outstanding.”

The Dodgers took a 4-2 lead in the fourth on a two-run double by leadoff batter Young. Young has primarily powered the Dodgers with his legs, stealing 13 basses in 17 attempts, though Atlanta catcher Javy Lopez nailed Young twice in two chances Tuesday.

With one out and the bases loaded, Young doubled over the head of center fielder Andruw Jones, driving in White and Adrian Beltre to break a 2-2 tie. Young’s hit chased Atlanta starter Kevin Millwood (1-2), who gave up six hits and four runs in 3 1/3 innings.

The teams combined for 19 walks, but that was still well short of the National League record of 26, set by Houston and San Francisco in 1975.

The Dodgers took a 5-2 lead in the fifth on Vizcaino’s run-scoring single against reliever Mike Remlinger.