FOR DODGERS, IT'S WORSE LATE THAN EVER ATLANTA AGAIN BEATS L.A. IN CLOSING INNINGS ATLANTA 3, DODGERS 1.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

The Dodgers had another late-inning meltdown.

Gary Sheffield hit a solo home run off Paul Quantrill for the game-winning hit as Atlanta scored two runs in the eighth inning to beat the L.A. 3-1 Tuesday in front of 31,021 at Dodger Stadium.

On Monday, the Dodgers and Braves were tied 4-4 after eight innings before Eric Gagne and Troy Brohawn allowed seven earned runs in the ninth in an 11-4 Atlanta victory.

Atlanta starter Russ Ortiz, the former Montclair Prep of Van Nuys star, had an excellent outing. He allowed just one run on four hits and two walks in eight innings to earn his fifth win.

Kazuhisa Ishii, who started for the Dodgers, had the same problem Hideo Nomo did a day earlier: Neither had command. Ishii walked five in six innings after Nomo walked seven in seven innings Monday.

However, Ishii showed his usual fortitude and got out of the trouble he got himself into. Ishii walked Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones to start the sixth and then retired Fick, Javy Lopez and Vinny Castilla.

Ishii gave up three hits in six innings and allowed just one earned run. He threw 113 pitches in six innings.

Sheffield homered on a 2-1 pitch and Chipper Jones flew out to left field. Andruw Jones singled and stole second, then advanced to third on Paul Lo Duca's errant throw to second. Robert Fick, a Newbury Park and Cal State Northridge product, singled to left to score Andruw Jones for a 3-1 lead.

Ortiz retired 14 consecutive batters from the end of the first inning into the sixth. Dave Roberts led off the game with a single but the Dodgers didn't get another hit until a single by Lo Duca drove in Roberts from second to make it 1-1.

Roberts had drawn a one-out walk and stole second - his 18th stolen base - although replays showed that he should have been out. Roberts slid head-first under the tag of second baseman Marcus Giles but Giles appeared to tag Roberts on the leg before his hand touched the bag.

The Braves scored in the third to take an early 1-0 lead. Rafael Furcal scored on a wild pitch by Ishii after a double steal. Furcal stole third and scored on the errant pitch.

Ishii got into more trouble when he walked Sheffield and Chipper Jones in consecutive at-bats to load the bases. Then he struck out Andruw Jones on a fastball and got Fick to fly out to center field.

The Braves, who made a host of changes in the offseason, have been impressive this season. Newcomers Fick and Ortiz, among others, have helped the Braves do what has come to be expected of that franchise: win.

They're leading the National League East, not to the surprise of many.

``They have an awesome team,'' said Dodgers outfielder Brian Jordan, who came over in a trade from Atlanta. ``You can make a lot of changes but when you bring in a lot of good people, it's not going to be any different. They have a great offense from No. 1 to No. 8. You can't go wrong.

``The Gileses and Furcals, the little guys play so hard and battle. I have the utmost respect.''

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Photo:

(color) Pitcher Kazuhisa Ishii got into some difficult situations Tuesday but came through. The Dodgers relievers, however, didn't.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer