Braves Derail Dodgers Again

Just when the Dodgers began feeling good again, here come the blazing Atlanta Braves again.

These guys know how to ruin the Dodgers’ good time, and they did it again Monday night during a 2-1 victory while establishing a franchise record with their 14th win in a row.

The Braves swept the Dodgers in three games at Turner Field last week, and took the opening game of this three-game series before 28,790 at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers cut the lead to 2-1 in the ninth on Kevin Elster’s two-out, run-scoring single off embattled Atlanta closer John Rocker, but that’s as close as they would get.

The Dodgers were coming off a sweep of the Florida Marlins, but that didn’t help them against the defending National League champions.

Of course, nothing has helped the rest of the league during the Braves’ latest run.

“This team always seems to find a way,” right fielder Brian Jordan said.

“There’s a certain confidence in the air when we hit the field. We know we’re going to win, that’s the attitude we take.”

The Braves also had 13-game streaks in ’82 and ’92. Outstanding pitching has been the key again, and Monday was no exception.

Starter Kevin Millwood (3-0) was typically dominant in limiting the Dodgers to only five hits in seven shutout innings.

Leadoff batter Quilvio Veras hit a solo home run in the third off Dodger rookie starter Eric Gagne (0-2), and scored an unearned run in the eighth against rookie reliever Matt Herges to push the lead to 2-0. That was enough for Millwood, Rudy Seanez and Rocker, though Rocker struggled in the ninth.

“Gagne pitched a great ballgame, and Millwood was outstanding too. When you’re going good like that, you’re going to get the breaks,” Dodger Manager Davey Johnson said.

Seanez worked a scoreless eighth, and Rocker was greeted by boos when he raced to the mound. Fans threw cups at Rocker, whose derogatory remarks in a magazine interview resulted in a two-week suspension to start the season.

The stadium public-address announcer warned fans they would be ejected if they continued throwing objects on the field, and a man had to be removed by security guards after leaving the stands to moon Rocker with the Dodgers batting in the ninth, adding to the bizarre Rocker sideshow.

But even Rocker’s situation hasn’t derailed the focused Braves.

After Elster’s run-scoring single, Rocker shut the door. He struck out pinch-hitter Geronimo Berroa swinging to nail down his sixth save.

All in a day’s work for baseball’s hottest team.

“We have guys on this team able to face adversity square in the face, thrive on it and move on,” Jordan said.

“Every time somebody struggles, someone else picks them up.”

The Braves took a 1-0 lead in the third on Veras’ one-out blast to right-center. On a 3-and-1 pitch, Veras connected on a fastball from Gagne, sending the ball into the empty seats in the right-field pavilion.

The homer increased Veras’ career-high hitting streak to 12 games. All the hits haven’t come against the Dodgers, though it might seem that way to them.

Veras, who also singled in the eighth, tormented the Dodgers during the previous series. He went six for 12 with two RBIs and a run.

He capped another good game Monday by robbing Shawn Green of a hit in the eighth with a diving stop and throw from the hole between second and first.

Other than Veras’ homer, Gagne was in command throughout.

The young right-hander gave up only four hits, striking out six and walking two.

Gagne struggled with his release point in his last two starts, and the Braves hit three homers off him in a 5-1 loss Wednesday.

He was much better in a strong one-run, seven-inning performance this time, but the outcome was the same.

Herges also pitched well. Herges, who worked the final two innings, hasn’t been charged with an earned run in 17 innings.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

A Mean Streak

A look at Atlanta’s franchise-record 14-game winning streak:

Result: Winning pitcher

d. Milwaukee, 2-1: Mulholland

d. Philadelphia, 4-3**: Rivera

d. Philadelphia, 10-1*: Glavine

d. Philadelphia, 6-4*: Millwood

d. Pittsburgh, 6-2*: Mulholland

d. Pittsburgh, 4-2*: Chen

d. Pittsburgh, 5-3*: Maddux

d. Dodgers, 1-0*: Glavine

d. Dodgers, 5-1*: Millwood

d. Dodgers, 6-3*: Mulholland

d. San Diego, 7-2: Maddux

d. San Diego, 7-4: Chen

d. San Diego, 7-4: Glavine

d. Dodgers, 2-1: Millwood

Totals: Braves 72, Opponents 31

*--home game; **--12-inning home game.

Note: National League record for most consecutive wins is 26 by the 1916 New York Giants; American League record is 19 by the 1906 Chicago White Sox and 1947 New York Yankees.