Up next is the NL West rival Atlanta Braves as the Dodgers travel to Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.
The Braves are led by Bobby Cox, who is in his second full season after talking over midway in 1990 after Russ Nixon was fired. The Braves were the pick by most prognosticators to win the West this year after winning 94 games and capturing the NL pennant the season before. However, they are off to a slow 2-6 start so far in '92.
April 16: Kevin Gross (0-1, 3.00 ERA) vs. Steve Avery (0-0, 1.35 ERA)
The Dodgers picked up a run early on Eric Karros' RBI single. Mike Scioscia's 5th inning homer made it 2-0, through the Braves scrapped together a run in the 6th to make it 2-1. IN the 9th, Roger McDowell was summoned for the save but gave up a double to catcher Greg Olson, and a single to Mark Treadway to tie the game. After a passed ball, Jeff Blauser walked to bring up Deion Sanders, who entered earlier as a pinch runner. Neon Deion grounded into a fielder's choice, scoring Treadway for a 3-2 lead. However, in the bottom of the 9th, Darryl Strawberry walked, Jose Offerman tripled, and Scioscia came through again, this time with a walk-off single to give LA a 4-3 win.
April 17: Tom Candiotti (2-0, 1.06) vs Tom Glavine (0-2, 4.61)
The Braves evened the series with a 4-3 win behind doubles by David Justice, Sid Bream and Greg Olson. Stan Javier had a pinch-hit RBI triple to bring LA with one run late but reliever Alejandro Pena closed the door in the 9th and picked up his first save.
April 18: Ramon Martinez (0-2, 3.72) vs. Charlie Leibrandt (1-1, 1.13)
The Brave's lefty shutout the Dodgers on 4 hits and 1 walk in Atlanta's 4-0 victory to take the series. Leibrandt only struck out one batter but picked up 15 ground outs as the Dodgers really only threatened once in the 9th inning. Greg Olson had a homer, capping a string of having an extra base hit in each of the three games against LA.
April 19: Orel Hershiser : (1-1, 2.57) vs John Smoltz (0-2, 3.75)
The Bulldog gave up three in the first ti the Braves with Ron Gant’s first homer of the year doing the most damage. The Dodgers were never able to get things going against Smoltz, who struck out 12 batters and came just one out short of a complete game shutout. He lowered his ERA to 2.12 with his first win of the season.
Atlanta may have come limping into LA off to a slow start but winning the last three puts them back on track. The Dodgers now sit at 5-8, in 5th place with just the 3-10 Padres below them.
With a current streak of 20 straight shutout innings, the Braves rotation is now second in the NL in ERA with a 2.45 mark, though the San Francisco Giants, with a 0.99 rotation ERA, are blowing away everyone right now.
The Dodgers really miss Brett Butler. His replacement, Mitch Webster, is hitting .176. Butler will be out at least another week.
The Dodgers will now host first place Cincinnati for a three game set starting tomorrow.