[0] BRAVES GIVE DODGERS GALARRAGA TREATMENT : ATLANTA 5 DODGERS 2.

Byline: Matt McHale Daily News Staff Writer

The Atlanta Braves struggled in San Diego, but by the time they moved up the freeway to Dodger Stadium they were back on cruise control.

If that is a surprise, you haven't been paying attention.

The Dodgers, who beat the lowly Florida Marlins only once in a three-game series, offered little resistance to the National League's best team Friday night with a 5-2 loss in front of 43,560 fans.

``This is getting old really fast,'' said Eric Karros, who drove in the Dodgers' final run in the eighth inning. ``Against the Braves, there is no margin for error. With some teams you might get a second chance. Now it seems like we are one of those teams.''

There was little suspense after the Braves' Andres Galarraga hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning off Dave Mlicki.

``That was the ballgame right there,'' Braves manager Bobby Cox said.

The Dodgers, already sluggish with six losses in their previous nine games against sub-.500 opponents, were playing without right-fielder Gary Sheffield, who was sidelined with a sprained right thumb.

Raul Mondesi did play after fouling a ball off his left foot Thursday and hit his 26th homer. But it was just his first since Aug. 2. Sheffield clearly was missed.

``I'll take some anti-inflammatory (medication) tonight and see what happens,'' Sheffield said. ``I can't tell the future.''

The injury forced the Dodgers to put Matt Luke in right and Trenidad Hubbard in left against rookie right-hander Kevin Millwood (14-6), who defeated the Dodgers in May at Atlanta but left after five innings with a sprained right ankle.

Luke and Hubbard combined for one infield hit in eight at-bats.

That happens, especially when part-timers are asked to step up. But Hubbard blundered in the fifth with runners at first and second and two outs. The Dodgers had Mondesi and Karros, the club's only surviving sluggers, coming up. But on a 3-1 count, Hubbard went for the big swing and flied out to end the inning.

The Dodgers struck out in the evening's wild-card race, dropping six-games behind leader Chicago. San Francisco and New York, both ahead of the Dodgers for the wild card, also won.

As the game wore on, the Dodgers' only chance was in getting to the Braves' vulnerable bullpen, which has blown 11 of 41 save opportunities this season.

In the eighth, former Dodger Rudy Seanez became the third Braves pitcher. He allowed infield hits to Eric Young and Hubbard. But Seanez, known best for his blazing but often uncontrollable fastball, slipped a change-up past Mondesi for a called third strike.

Karros followed with run-scoring single, giving him 600 career RBI. Only Steve Garvey, Ron Cey, Willie Davis and Bill Russell have accomplished that in Los Angeles Dodgers history.

But Seanez recovered and blew a fastball by Luke for the final out.

Luke, expected to get far more playing time in left now that the club has decided to bench Bobby Bonilla, finished 0-4 with three strikeouts.

Kerry Ligtenberg, who has replaced struggling Mark Wohlers as the Braves' closer, pitched the a perfect ninth for his 19th save.

The Braves (81-41) dropped two of three in San Diego but won the final game to remain ahead of the Padres for the best record in the National League. Surprisingly, they are 8-9 against Houston, San Diego and the Cubs, three teams they could meet in the postseason.

The Dodgers, now 0-4 against the Braves this season, provided no such problems.

Until the fourth, Mlicki (6-6) had not allowed a hit until Atlanta second baseman Keith Lockhart opened the inning with a sharp single to right.

Chipper Jones walked, bringing up Galarraga, who had a 13-game hitting streak snapped Wednesday in San Diego.

Galarraga worked the count to 3-2 before crushing an outside fastball into the stands in right center for a three-run homer. It was his 37th, moving him ahead of Colorado's Vinny Castilla into fourth place among NL leaders. It traveled 431 feet.