Green Stops Living in Past

Shawn Green couldn’t do anything about the past, so he focused on the present.

The Dodgers benefited again Saturday from Green’s approach in the second half of the season, getting two home runs from the infielder-outfielder in a 7-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves in front of 52,398 at Dodger Stadium.

The 21st sellout crowd of the season watched Green hit his second grand slam of 2004 -- on a 437-foot blast to right -- and eighth of his career in the first inning against Atlanta starter Mike Hampton, staking Jeff Weaver to a 4-0 lead.

Green also delivered after the Braves cut the lead to 4-2 in the third on J.D. Drew’s career-high 28th homer, connecting on his 22nd in the bottom of the inning to provide Weaver with a three-run cushion. Green had his third multi-homer game of the season and tied the team season-high with five runs batted in after only three innings, continuing to seize the moment.

“If there was an explanation to why I was struggling, I wouldn’t have struggled for three months, I would have fixed it,” said Green, batting .295 with 12 homers and 31 RBIs in 36 games since the All-Star break.

“There’s nothing I can do about the games we’ve played in the past. All I can do is just try to finish up strong.”

Weaver (11-10) was strong again Saturday, but it was a strange game for a pitcher who has victories in his last four decisions, worked at least seven innings in his sixth consecutive start and had his 12th quality start in 13 outings.

Weaver hit three consecutive batters in the first inning, matching a major league record that has occurred six times. The right-hander escaped the jam when Andruw Jones fouled out with the bases loaded.

“The cutter wasn’t as sharp as it has been,” said Weaver, who gave up three or fewer earned runs for the 16th time in his last 17 starts.

“I just pulled a few of them, but didn’t get away from using it, which was a key. Every time I threw something out over [the plate], they had good swings on it.”

Even with Green’s big day and another solid outing from Weaver, the Dodgers had to hold on in the ninth on a day closer Eric Gagne was not available.

Mike Venafro was charged with a run in the eighth, cutting the lead to 7-4, but the Braves stranded runners on first and second against Yhency Brazoban. Giovanni Carrara entered in the ninth after having pitched two scoreless innings and earning the win in Friday’s 3-2 victory in 11 innings.

The Braves loaded the bases with one out on two singles and a walk, stirring concern as Gagne sat restlessly in the dugout. Carrara did the job, though, getting Charles Thomas on an infield popup and Julio Franco on a grounder to end the game.

Carrara recorded his second career save and first since 2002, helping the Dodgers (72-50) increase their lead to 5 1/2 games over second-place San Francisco in the National League West.

The NL East-leading Braves (69-53) stranded 14 runners -- leaving the bases loaded in the first, fifth and ninth -- in losing consecutive games for the first time since June 22-23 against Florida. The Dodgers try to take three of four in the series today.

Gagne remained in his seat for the entire game Saturday, acknowledging that it wasn’t easy in the ninth.

“It was very weird. I’m used to being in that situation,” said Gagne, who gave up go-ahead runs in his previous three appearances. “Of course, I want to be out there every day, but I’ll take that day off and try to get myself straightened out.

“Even if you want to pitch every day, you get little bumps and bruises here and there. You’ve got to get your body straight sometimes, so I took a total day off and watched like a fan. Greenie had an unbelievable day swinging the bat.”

Green is batting .593 with five homers and 17 RBIs in his career against Hampton (9-9), who was chased in the fifth.

“I know his numbers,” Hampton said. “He hits well against me.”