It’s Streaky Perez Who Stops Braves

Carlos Perez, streak-stopper?

The shaky left-hander seemingly wasn’t the ideal candidate to end the Atlanta Braves’ 15-game winning streak, but Perez filled the role well Wednesday night in a 6-4 Dodger victory.

He played a big part in handing the Braves their first loss since April 15, overcoming a rough start to pitch seven innings. Manager Davey Johnson considered removing Perez in the fourth with a run already in and the bases loaded, but Chipper Jones grounded out to end the inning.

Then Perez (3-1) finished strong. He continued his recent turnaround while outdueling four-time Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux before a crowd of 34,960 at Dodger Stadium.

And the Braves’ streak is history.

“We expect to win every time out, but we made some mistakes tonight that we haven’t been making [during the streak],” Manager Bobby Cox said. “But 15 out of 16 isn’t bad.”

Maddux (4-1) had a strange night, giving up two homers and six runs (five earned) in a disappointing complete game. Shawn Green and Todd Hollandsworth gave him the most trouble.

Green went three for three with three runs batted in. He hit a two-run blast--his sixth home run--as the Dodgers scored three runs in the third to take a 4-3 lead. Then his run-scoring single in the fifth put L.A. ahead for good, 5-4.

“They hit some good pitches,” said Maddux, who gave up nine hits. “You have to tip your hat to them, they sure didn’t miss many.”

Hollandsworth, playing for injured center fielder Devon White, was outstanding atop the order and defensively.

He went three for four and scored three runs. His solo homer in the seventh provided insurance, and the bullpen did its part again.

Mike Fetters pitched a scoreless eighth, and closer Jeff Shaw worked a perfect ninth to nail down his seventh save and the Dodgers’ first victory in six games against the Braves this season.

White is sidelined by a jammed shoulder, and shortstop Kevin Elster left Wednesday’s game in the seventh after straining his groin. Both are expected to go on the 15-day disabled list, and the Dodgers plan to recall infielder Alex Cora from triple-A Albuquerque to take Elster’s place on the roster.

The news wasn’t all good for the Dodgers, but they finally defeated the Braves and ended their latest big run.

“The way our series had gone with these guys, it figures we’d beat their best pitcher,” said Johnson, whose club was swept by the Braves at Turner Field last week. “They’ve got a good club, but we’ve got a good club too. All the games were close, and I’m just glad to get that monkey off our back.”

Perez too.

“We have a great team,” said Perez, who gave up six hits and four runs with four walks. “It doesn’t matter that we lost the first three games in Atlanta and two games here, we’re going to keep going.”

It appeared Perez’s work might end early Wednesday after encountering trouble in the opening inning.

The Braves took a 2-0 lead in the first on run-scoring singles by Chipper Jones and Brian Jordan. He gave up three hard hits in the inning and the fans became more restless with each pitch.

They have seen Perez at his worst many times, and apparently thought they would again against the Braves.

But Perez had pitched well in his previous two outings, and continued to surprise Wednesday.

“That always happens to me early in games in my career,” he said. “But I know I have a great team behind me, so I just have to keep my head up and keep pitching. That’s all I have to do.”

He did, settling down after a difficult time in the fourth. Andres Galarraga had a run-scoring single in the third, and Walt Weiss added another in the fourth to tie the score, 4-4. Perez retired the side in order in the fifth, sixth and seventh, getting the last 10 hitters he faced.

“After I threw three or four innings, I felt much better,” he said. “The last three innings, everything was working good.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Streak Over

The Braves’ winning streak ended at 15 games, the longest NL streak in nearly a half-century. A look at the longest NL streaks and where the teams finished:

26--New York Giants, 1916

fourth in National League

21--Chicago Cubs, 1935

lost in World Series

17--New York Giants, 1907

fourth in National League

17--New York Giants, 1916

fourth in National League

16--Pittsburgh Pirates, 1909

won World Series

16--New York Giants, 1912

lost in World Series

16--New York Giants, 1951

lost in World Series

15--Pittsburgh Pirates, 1903

lost in World Series

15--Brooklyn Dodgers, 1924

second in National League

15--Chicago Cubs, 1936

second in National League

15--New York Giants, 1936

lost in World Series

15--Atlanta Braves, 2000

Record: 20-7