Dodgers bullpen wild in 8th in loss to Braves

LOS ANGELES -- The Braves rallied for two runs against a wild Dodgers bullpen in the eighth inning to beat Los Angeles 3-2 on Wednesday night, avoiding a three-game sweep at Dodger Stadium.

Chris Hatcher opened the eighth inning in a 1-1 tie, but was done after just five pitches. He allowed a pop fly single to left center field by Andrelton Simmons and then walked pinch hitter Todd Cunningham on four pitches.

Adam Liberatore, Hatcher's replacement, got two outs and was close to escaping the jam, but with runners on the corners Liberatore uncorked a wild pitch to the backstop, forcing in a run while walking Freddie Freeman. Nick Markakis then drove a ground rule double into the left field corner that if it didn't bounce into the stands might have scored two runs instead of one.

Hatcher and Liberatore combined for 29 pitches in the eighth inning, 12 for strikes.

Alex Guerrero brought the Dodgers to within a run with a home run in the ninth inning, and the Dodgers put the tying runs on base. But closer Jason Grilli got out of the inning with no further damage for his 14th save. He got pinch hitter Alberto Callaspo, in his first game as a Dodger, to fly out to end it.

Alex Wood got the win for the Braves with seven strong innings, striking out six while allowing one run. He was pinch hit for in Atlanta's winning rally in the eighth inning.

Zack Greinke battled in the first, walking two and loading the bases with one out. But he was able to strike out Juan Uribe and A.J. Pierzynski to end the threat. Greinke struck out three in the inning but also needed 32 pitches to do it.

With one out in the third inning, Greinke allowed a solo home run to Cameron Maybin, but that was it. Greinke retired his final 11 batters faced, leaving after the sixth inning with 97 pitches and a season-high nine strikeouts.

"Zack after the first inning put him in a tough spot. But after that he was rolling. Without that, he probably goes seven tonight," manager Don Mattingly said. "No question Zack has been terrific this season."

Zack Greinke's ERA soared tonight from 1.47541 to 1.47761.

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) May 28, 2015

Greinke has allowed five runs in five May starts but just one win to show for it, thanks in part to three total runs scored by the Dodgers with him in the game in his last four outings.

"It kind of goes in and out. My first six or eight games, we were getting like 10 runs a game," Greinke said."You can't spread it out perfectly. I'm sure it won't last forever."

Greinke also singled in the fifth inning with two outs, then stole second base. It was the first stolen base by a major league pitcher this season, and the fourth steal of Greinke's career. He has not been caught, and is 3-for-3 in stolen base attempts as a Dodger.

"You gotta be smart, and not really be scared to look terrible," Greinke said.

Wednesday particulars

Home run: Alex Guerrero (9); Cameron Maybin (5)

WP - Alex Wood (3-2): 7 IP, 7 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts

LP - Chris Hatcher (1-4): 0 IP, 1 hit, 2 runs, 1 walk

Sv - Jason Grilli (14): 1 IP, 2 hits, 1 run