Offense more of an issue than the bullpen in third straight loss

The script remains familiar, bullpen comes in and can't close the door and the Dodgers get swept in Atlanta. The Dodgers learn that when you don't hit, don't defend and don't make good pitches at critical times, you lose.

This game had two rain delays, Matt Magill went 5 plus innings, giving up only 1 run on 4 hits and 3 walks while striking out a career high 8 batters. But his high pitch counts again forced the Dodgers to go to the pen too early.

The Dodgers scored in the first inning when Carl Crawford led off the game with a line drive to left field, Justin Upton who misplayed a double on Saturday, let the ball get behind and Crawford got a double. After a Mark Ellis ground out to second and Matt Kemp striking out, Adrian Gonzalez singled in the first run.

With one out in the third inning, Matt Kemp doubled Carl Crawford to third and Gonzalez hit a sacrifice fly for the second run.

Nick Punto's error in the 5th inning gave the Braves an extra out and with two out, Jordan Schafer singled in Ramiro Pena for the Braves first run.

Matt Magill started the 6th inning but after Justin Upton singled, J.P. Howell came in, he got Freddie Freeman to hit a potential double play ball but Mark Ellis couldn't make the feed to Nick Punto. But then Howell struck out Brian McCann, Andrelton Simmons flew out to CF and then Ronald Belisario got last night's hero, Evan Gattis to ground into a fielder's choice.

Ronald Belisario got two outs in the bottom of the 7th but after a walk and hit by pitch, Kenley Jansen came in to face Justin Upton. Jansen got the best of Upton and struck him out swinging to end the 7th.

The 8th inning began with Freddie Freeman fouling off two-strike pitches until he singled. Brian McCann got a quick walk off Jansen and Mattingly went to the bullpen again. Brandon League came in and Juan Uribe committed an error when he couldn't barehand a sacrifice bunt attempt. And then before you could say call the bullpen, a single, sacrifice fly, single and squeeze bunt scored 4 runs to give the Braves their third come form behind win.

Craig Kimbrel, who had blown some saves this year, came in to record his third save of the series.

Up next

Dodgers begin a three game series at the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, Clayton Kershaw will take the mound against Yovani Gallardo to start the series.

Sunday's particulars

Home runs: None

WP - Luis Avilan (2-0)

LP - Kenley Jansen (1-3)

Sv - Craig Kimbrel (14)