Yasiel Puig can’t save Dodgers this time as they lose, 2-1, to Braves

Rookie sensation Yasiel Puig gave Dodgers fans more to cheer about Saturday night, but it wasn’t enough for the Dodgers to overcome the Atlanta Braves.

Atlanta starting pitcher Kris Medlen held the Dodgers scoreless in 62/3 innings of work and helped his cause with a solo home run as the Braves defeated the Dodgers, 2-1, at Dodger Stadium.

Medlen’s homer off Dodgers starter Stephen Fife in the fifth inning came one out after the Braves’ Dan Uggla hit a solo home run into the left-field pavilion.

BOX SCORE: Braves 2, Dodgers 1

Andrelton Simmons then singled and Jason Heyward followed with a single to Puig in right field, with Simmons trying to reach third base on the play.

Puig threw a strike to Dodgers third baseman Luis Cruz, who tagged out the sliding Simmons, drawing a roar from the crowd of 52,716.

But the Dodgers’ batters couldn’t score against Medlen, a right-handed Artesia native who allowed five hits. One was a line-drive single by Puig in the third inning.

Puig, who had hit four home runs — including a grand slam — in his first five games, also bunted back to Medlen for an out in the first inning and struck out in the fifth inning.

Puig led off in the eighth inning with an infield hit — he slid safely into first base to beat the throw – but was forced out on Nick Punto’s grounder.

But Simmons, the shortstop, threw wildly to first base, enabling Punto to reach second base. Punto eventually scored when Hanley Ramirez hit a pinch-hit single off Braves reliever Jordan Walden.

Skip Schumaker singled in his first at-bat, extending his career-high hitting streak to 14 games.

Lilly headed to DL

Struggling with a neck ailment, starting pitcher Ted Lilly again was headed to the disabled list, Manager Don Mattingly said before the game.

The Dodgers hadn’t announced a starting pitcher for Sunday’s game against Atlanta and, when asked about it, Mattingly said “I guess when we put Ted on the DL we’ll announce it.”

The club was expected to call Matt Magill back from triple-A Albuquerque to start Sunday’s game.

Magill has made five starts for the Dodgers this year, allowing 17 earned runs in 24 innings for a 6.38 ERA. The right-hander from Simi Valley was sent back to the minor leagues Monday when Puig was called up.

The problem affecting Lilly, 37, is frustrating because it’s unpredictable, Mattingly said.

“We just don’t know when this thing is going to pop up,” Mattingly said. “Saturday he leaves the ballpark feeling fine, sleeps funny, comes in Sunday morning and can’t turn his head.”

Old-timers game

The air was thick with nostalgia as the Dodgers held their first old-timers game in 18 years, this one with players from the Dodgers and the New York Yankees.

The lineups were announced by Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully, and former Dodgers manager Tom Lasorda managed the Dodgers while actor Billy Crystal managed the Yankees.

Fernando Valenzuela was the Dodgers’ starting pitcher, and Dwight Gooden was the starting pitcher for the Yankees. Television personality Larry King was the home-plate umpire. The two-inning game ended in a 1-1 tie.

james.peltz@latimes.com