DODGERS MISJUDGE IN ATLANTA; DEFENSIVE REPLACEMENT, MANAGERIAL DECISION FAIL IN LOSS TO BRAVES : ATLANTA 4 DODGERS 2.

Byline: Matt McHale Daily News Staff Writer

Todd Hollandsworth didn't have a hit in more than a week and he had started only one game in the previous five. So it was no surprise that when he tried to field Chipper Jones' sharp liner with Monday night's game on the line against the Atlanta Braves, Hollandsworth remained in his slump.

Jones' eighth-inning drive skipped past Hollandsworth on its way to the left-field wall, putting the go-ahead runs in scoring position. Both came in on Javy Lopez's base hit that beat the Dodgers 4-2 in front of 32,330 at Turner Field.

``You put this one on me,'' said Hollandsworth, who entered the game in the eighth for defensive purposes. ``Plain and simple.''

The loss really wasn't plain and simple. It was the third for the Dodgers in only 10 games. But it was clear the Dodgers weren't playing the Pittsburgh Pirates anymore.

Hideo Nomo pitched well for the third consecutive start but made critical mistakes at key points in the game.

Manager Bill Russell elected to leave Nomo in the game to face Keith Lockhart opening the ninth and Lockhart tied the game with a home run.

The Dodgers had the top of the order for the top of the ninth but couldn't do anything against rookie reliever Kerry Ligtenberg, who has taken over for injured closer Mark Wohlers.

Mike Piazza and Raul Mondesi both struck out, and Mondesi took out his postgame frustration with a little clubhouse tirade.

``The game was right there for me,'' Mondesi said later, shaking his head. ``It was mine and I couldn't do it.''

Nomo, in search of his third consecutive complete game, was sharp most of the night, but he got in trouble when he got the ball up in the strike zone.

After yielding two hits in the seventh, Nomo was allowed to start the eighth. The Dodgers had left-hander Mark Guthrie ready in the bullpen, but Nomo had thrown just 97 pitches and manager Bill Russell left him in.

The non-move immediately backfired when Lockhart, a left-handed-hitting second baseman, drove a high 3-1 fastball into the right-field stands. It was the same pitch Lockhart saw in the third inning when he singled home Andruw Jones to tie the game 1-1.

Lockhart is in his second year with the Braves after two seasons with Kansas City. He entered the season with a .284 lifetime average but is tearing up right-handed pitching this year with .399 average.

Nomo and Braves rookie right-hander Kevin Millwood (4-1) were dominant into the late innings.

After the Dodgers scored in the first on an RBI single by Eric Karros, Millwood faced the minimum 19 batters in the next six innings. Piazza singled to open the fourth but was erased on a double play. Mondesi singled with two outs in the seventh but was cut down trying to stretch it into a double.

But Todd Zeile opened the seventh with a home run to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead. Zeile, who hit a three-run homer Sunday, is batting .420 on the trip and .359 in his past nine games.

Nomo also was dominant into the seventh. But Millwood walked with two outs and Guthrie got ready in the bullpen.

Walt Weiss flied out to end the inning and Russell stayed with Nomo to start the eighth.

``He deserved that, he was a warrior tonight,'' Russell said. ``He made a few mistakes, but I was very pleased with how he pitched.''

Pitching coach Greg Goosen said the momentum shifted when Nomo fell behind 3-1 to Lockhart on a close pitch.

``If it's, 2-2 he goes with the splitter that was a good strikeout pitch for him,'' Goosen said. ``He went with the fastball and it was up.''

The symbol for the Dodgers' frustration, though, was Hollandsworth. Until recently, he was the Dodgers' starting left-fielder and No. 2 hitter.

But after going hitless in 13 at-bats with six strikeouts, Hollandsworth was replaced by Matt Luke in left during the Pittsburgh series. Luke responded and Hollandsworth disappeared.

He started Sunday and hit a couple of balls hard but was back on the bench Monday until replacing Luke in left to start the eighth.

DODGERS vs. ATLANTA

Time: 4:40 p.m., Turner Field.

TV/Radio: WTBS; 1150-AM, KWKW-AM (1330 Spanish).

Matchup: In the second of three games with the Braves, Ismael Valdes (2-3, 4.95) faces left-hander Denny Neagle (3-1, 3.27). Valdes has not been a road warrior this season. He is 2-0 with a 3.95 ERA at Dodger Stadium but 0-3 with a 5.56 ERA on the road. He lasted just five innings in his last start and threw 95 pitches, but the Dodgers eventually won 14-6. Neagle, coming off a 20-5 season in 1997, has been solid again. He shut out the Giants on Thursday, striking out 10. Neagle was 1-1 with a 1.76 ERA against the Dodgers last season.

- Matt McHale

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

Photo: (Color) The Dodgers' Roger Cedeno steals first base and later scored in the first inning.

Erik Lesser/Associated Press

Box: DODGERS vs. ATLANTA (See Text)