Dodgers can’t overcome Atlanta’s solo shots in 2-1 loss

And then there are those games when it all comes flooding back. The nice but not good enough starting pitching. The weak offense. Another loss.

The Dodgers dropped a tad deeper into last place Saturday, falling to the Atlanta Braves, 2-1, before a sellout crowd of 52,716, despite a very good effort by right-hander Stephen Fife.

Rookie Cuban sensation Yasiel Puig had his almost nightly “wow” moment, but it wasn’t enough to lead the Dodgers to a third consecutive victory.

Fife gave up a pair of solo home runs in the fifth inning but otherwise was outstanding. Still, right-hander Kris Medlen made it hold up for the Braves.

The Dodgers managed only five hits and really didn’t put much of a scare into Medlen (3-6) during his 6 2/3 scoreless innings.

Puig took a night off from his home-run business, settling for a 2-for-4 night with a pair of singles.

Which is not say he didn’t bring the Dodger Stadium crowd to its feet again. This time it was his arm that caused the jaw-dropping reaction.

Fife was having his one rocky inning in the fifth, giving up solo home runs to Dan Uggla and … Medlen? It’s true, the switch-hitting Medlen hit the first home run of his career to give Atlanta a 2-0 lead.

The Braves were still threatening in the fifth when Andrelton Simmons beat out an infield hit and Jason Heyward bounced a single into right. Simmons rounded second and headed for third — apparently the scouting report on Puig’s rifle arm not yet well circulated.

Puig scooped the ball up in medium right and fired on a line to third. Not sure it ever got more than 20 feet above the ground. It arrived straight into the glove of Luis Cruz, beating Simmons to the bag by maybe four feet.

Simmons turned and headed to the Braves dugout, looking back at Puig, seemingly in disbelief.

Fife (1-1) also went 6 2/3 innings for the Dodgers, allowing nine hits and a walk, with seven strikeouts.

The Dodgers finally pushed a run across against the Atlanta bullpen in the eighth. And Puig did have something to do with it. He led off with an infield single, unwisely — and, in truth, unnecessarily — diving head-first into the bag. He looked to have irritated his right shoulder slightly, but remained in the game.

Puig was thrown out at second on a force play, but his presence may have hurried Simmons’ throw. It flew past Freddie Freeman for an error, allowing Nick Punto to take second. He advanced to third on an Adrian Gonzalez groundout and scored on a single from pinch-hitter Hanley Ramirez.

The Dodgers had the tying run on second with two out in the ninth and Puig on deck when Mark Ellis struck out to end the game.