Trip Is Over, but No Relief in Sight

ATLANTA —  The good news for the Dodgers is that their demoralizing season officially ends soon.

The bad news is that they must complete their schedule although the season ended in reality weeks ago.

The Dodgers added another disappointing chapter to that story Monday afternoon, squandering a 3-0 lead in the eighth inning and losing, 4-3, to the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field, completing the Braves’ three-game sweep.

“It was supposed to be a different page today,” Dodger Manager Glenn Hoffman said. “I feel bad for . . . I feel bad for all of the guys. There’s not a lot more I can say about it than that.”

The facts tell it well enough.

Closer Jeff Shaw (2-6) suffered his second blown save with the Dodgers, giving up back-to-back home runs in the eighth inning as the Braves rallied to take a 4-3 lead. The Dodgers had taken the lead in the top of the inning against Atlanta starter Tom Glavine (17-5) on a run-scoring single by Gary Sheffield and a two-run homer by Eric Karros, his third homer in two games and 18th overall.

But typically with the Dodgers, that wasn’t enough.

They had the go-ahead run at the plate in the ninth against Atlanta closer Kerry Ligtenberg. With Eric Young on first and two outs, pinch-hitter Matt Luke popped out to shallow left-center to end the game.

Ligtenberg earned his 23rd save, continuing to impress since he assumed the full-time closer role in late July. In securing the Braves’ fourth successive victory, he enabled Glavine to tie teammate Greg Maddux for the National League lead in victories.

The NL East leaders improved to 87-44. They dominated the Dodgers in the season series, winning eight of nine games, including the six played at Turner Field.

“We’ve got a lot of problems, and we unfortunately haven’t been able to overcome them,” Karros said. “But anyone looking to blame our problems on one area needs to go play rotisserie baseball, because that’s not the way it works.

“Everyone who puts on [the Dodger] uniform is struggling right now. The game today, that’s just the way it’s been going.”

The Dodgers wasted another outstanding effort by starter Brian Bohanon, who pitched 7 1/3 strong innings. They dropped three games under .500 (64-67) for the first time since June 28, and finished 2-5 on the trip that many players acknowledged would likely determine their fate in the NL wild-card race.

With 31 games remaining, the Dodgers trail the New York Mets by eight games for the wild-card berth. But they are also behind the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants.

The Dodgers are running out of time--and still searching for answers.

“We’ve got a good club over here, I know I still believe that,” Bohanon said. “But as far as why we’re not clicking, I know I can’t figure it out.

“You look around this clubhouse and you see a lot of talented guys. You see guys in here who are still busting their butts every day, but it’s just not working for us.

“It’s as frustrating for us as it is for management. Guys are going out there to do their part, but the [victories] aren’t coming.”

Bohanon did his part once again.

He has been the Dodgers’ steadiest starter since he was acquired from the New York Mets for middle reliever Greg McMichael on July 10. Bohanon gave up five hits and was charged with one run, frustrating the Braves throughout the game by mixing his off-speed pitches and cut-fastball.

He struck out eight--six looking--and walked two. Bohanon has a 2.35 earned-run average in nine starts with the Dodgers, but his record in only 4-4 during that span.

Left-handers Bohanon and Glavine matched each other through seven scoreless innings Monday.

Glavine pitched eight innings, giving up 10 hits and three runs. He struck out two without a walk.

With one out in the eighth, Hoffman replaced Bohanon with Shaw after Chipper Jones walked. Shaw has made the biggest contribution to the club since he was acquired from the Cincinnati Reds on July 4, earning 14 saves in 15 opportunities entering Monday’s game.

After Andres Galarraga singled through the hole at short, Javy Lopez hit a three-run shot--his 26th homer and 100th of his career--to left, tying the score, 3-3.

Andruw Jones followed with a homer off the left-field foul pole--his 22nd--on a full count. Shaw gave up a single and walked a batter before striking out Tony Graffanino to end the inning.

“We’ve hit a bad skid at a crucial time in the season, but I still think there’s time to turn this around,” Shaw said. “Until someone puts a ‘X’ by our name [in the standings], we’re still in.”

Mathematically, that is.

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PEREZ’S PROBLEMS

Carlos Perez says his arm is fine, but the Dodgers admit they’re concerned, given his recent performances. C6