Adrian Gonzalez joins 1,000-RBI club

LOS ANGELES -- Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning against Julio Teheran of the Braves on Tuesday, in the Dodgers' 8-0 win over Atlanta. It gave Gonzalez 1,001 RBI in his career, the 279th major league player to reach the 1,000 RBI milestone.

It was Gonzalez's 10th home run of the season.

Gonzalez was 1-for-3 with a walk on Tuesday, and is tied for fifth in the National League with 35 RBI on the season. Monday night snapped a string of eight straight games without an RBI for Gonzalez, his longest drought of the year.

"It's a great number. For me, career-wise I'd like to see 1,500. But 1,000 means you've been in the league for a little while," Gonzalez said. "I have to thank God for the opportunity to stay healthy and have the number at-bats to get them."

He led the majors with 116 RBI in 2014, and has driven in 100 runs in five straight years and in seven of the last eight seasons. In the one season he missed the century mark — 2009 with San Diego — he drove in 99.

"It's the sign of a run producer, a guy that helps you win ballgames," said catcher A.J. Ellis during the last homestand. "A guy like Adrian hits to the situation as well as any guy I have ever played with. He knows how to drive runs in, knows how to shorten his swing, he knows when to have a bigger swing.

"This milestone will really reflect what he's done for his career and the kind of hitter he has been in clutch situations."

Gonzalez is 12th among active players in RBI.