Dodgers Feeling Left Out

What’s that about the Atlanta Braves struggling on offense?

The Dodgers were confused about the fuss after the Braves had 12 hits Friday night in a 5-1 victory at Dodger Stadium.

The Braves--14th in batting in the league with a .243 average--had runners in scoring position throughout against starter Eric Gagne and relievers Gregg Olson and Matt Herges, reminding the Dodgers and a sellout crowd of 54,343 that they’re still talented and determined.

“The Braves are a very capable ballclub, and they’ve proven that over the last decade,” Dodger Manager Jim Tracy said. “It doesn’t matter what their record is or how they’ve been hitting.

“You better come out ready to play every night or these guys will beat you. Tonight, they beat us, we didn’t do anything to beat ourselves. They got the key hits when they needed them.”

Typically, their pitching wasn’t bad either.

The Braves took command and chased Gagne (1-2) in a three-run seventh, taking a 4-0 lead and providing more than enough support for starter Odalis Perez (2-4).

Perez set the tone in the opening game of a three-game series, working 7 2/3 strong innings and contributing with a run-scoring double in the eighth.

The left-hander gave up only five singles and the Dodgers did not have a runner advance to third against him.

He struck out six, walked three and threw a wild pitch in 107 pitches, including 66 strikes.

“I’ve seen him be as good as he was tonight,” Tracy said. “He’s a very capable guy. The Braves don’t run guys out there if they’re not capable of doing what Perez did.”

Jose Cabrera got Eric Karros on a grounder for the final out in the eighth with runners on first and second.

Enter closer John Rocker.

Marquis Grissom and Hiram Bocachica singled through the hole at short, and Rocker struck out Jeff Reboulet and pinch-hitter Angel Pena with Brian Johnson on deck.

Johnson, who entered at catcher in the eighth, singled to center, driving in Grissom, and Bocachica went to third and Johnson to second on center fielder Andruw Jones’ errant throw.

Rocker wound up striking out the side, ending the game with pinch-hitter Shawn Green striking out on a check swing.

With the Braves leading, 1-0, Rico Brogna singled to start the seventh and advanced to third when Rafael Furcal doubled on a chopper that landed inside the right-field line just past first base.

Following Perez’s popup, Quilvio Veras singled past first baseman Karros through a drawn-in infield, driving in Brogna and Furcal, extending the Braves’ lead to 3-0 and ending Gagne’s work.

Andruw Jones then singled to left against Olson, and Gary Sheffield, tied for the league lead with five assists, made a strong throw that appeared to nail Veras at third.

However, third-base umpire Chris Cuccione called Veras safe when third baseman Bocachica dropped the ball.

The play proved to be significant because Brian Jordan, with the bases loaded after an intentional walk, lifted a run-scoring sacrifice fly to left-center.

Sheffield again made a strong throw, which the speedy Veras beat standing up, and Olson got out of the inning without further problems.

What had been developing as an impressive start for Gagne ended as a so-so performance.

The right-hander gave up nine hits in 6 1/3 innings, was charged with four runs and had six strikeouts without a walk in a 108-pitch, 79-strike outing.

“Gagne threw the ball incredible,” Tracy said. “He hasn’t had back-to-back starts like this in his career.”

The Braves had runners in scoring position in the first, second and fifth against Gagne, who showed his mettle in working out of trouble.

But Atlanta broke through in the sixth of a scoreless game.

Chipper Jones doubled to left-center. Jordan then sent a blooper to shallow center that Tom Goodwin fielded on one hop with Jones rounding third and Goodwin, who scouts said has a weak arm, drew boos from the crowd because he did not throw to the plate.