[0] BRAVES SCRUB BAFFLES DODGERS L.A. CAN'T HIT; GAGNE EVENTUALLY CRUMBLES VS. NEMESIS ATLANTA 5, DODGERS 1.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

In recent years, a series against the Atlanta Braves has meant the opportunity to see one of the deepest and most dominant pitching staffs in baseball. The same was true when the Braves began a three-game series at Dodger Stadium.

Except this time, the Dodgers are the ones with the highly regarded staff. Not that it mattered on Friday, though.

The Dodgers never advanced a runner past second base until the ninth inning in a 5-1 loss in front of a sellout crowd of 54,343.

Atlanta starter Odalis Perez brought a 1-4 record and 8.37 ERA into the game. However, the left-hander gave up just three hits through the first five innings and allowed only one runner to advance as far as second base during that span. Odalis finished with a season-high six strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings of five-hit work.

The Braves pounded 12 hits off a staff that many are calling one of the best in baseball this year.

Despite Friday's appearances, these are not the same Braves who have won nine consecutive division titles. These Braves entered the series fiveg ames out of first place in the National League East. A pitching staff that has had the best ERA in the National League the past four years and seven of the last nine seasons, entered Friday's game ranked seventh in the league with a 4.27 staff ERA.

The Dodgers, meanwhile, boasted the league's third-best ERA at 3.86.

For five innings, Gagne (1-2) made it evident why the staff is successful. Then he lost his ability to work out of trouble and the team that entered the game with just one starter batting over .300 broke the game open.

Atlanta scored three runs in the seventh to take a 4-0 lead and chase Gagne, who struck out four and walked none in 6 1/3 innings.

Rico Brogna and Rafael Furcal started the seventh with back-to-back singles. Quilvio Veras drove in both with another single and Brian Jordan brought in the final run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to left as Veras beat the throw home from Dodgers left fielder Gary Sheffield.

Atlanta broke the scoreless tie with a run in the sixth after Sheffield had denied Andruw Jones of a home run by making a catch at the fence. Chipper Jones started the rally with a double. He scored on a single to shallow center by Jordan. Gagne retired the next two batters on a comebacker and a strikeout.

The Braves led off both the first two innings with doubles, but failed both times failed to get another hit as the Dodgers got out of the inning without allowing a run. Gagne retired the side in order the next two innings. Atlanta rallied in the fifth as Javy Lopez opened the inning with a single and Brogna followed with a single to right that put runners at the corners, but Gagne again got out of the jam without allowing a run.

Gagne, who is winless in three career starts against the Braves, was hurt by a lack of run support for the second outing in a row. In his previous start, he went seven innings, giving up only an infield single and one unearned run, but got a no-decision in the Dodgers' 3-2 loss to Chicago.

Dodger hits were frequently followed by inning-ending outs. Mark Grudzielanek singled in the first only to have Sheffield ground into a double play at batter later to end the inning. Gagne singled in the third, but Tom Goodwin followed with a fielder's choice grounder to end the threat. The Dodgers put two runners on for the first time in the fourth, but again they were denied when Hiram Bocachica flied out to right field.

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Photo:

(color) Dodgers third baseman Hiram Bocachica throws past pitcher Eric Gagne for a putout at first base in the first inning Friday against Atlanta.

Chris Pizzello/Associated Press