ESPN.com – MLB – Box Score – Dodgers at Braves

Well, that was no fun. The Braves were limited to three hits and two walks over seven innings by Derek Lowe, struck out eight times, and ruined another good start from Tim Hudson before a too-little, too-late comeback.

The Braves actually led 1-0 after three, Willie Harris (pretty much the only guy who showed up tonight) scoring on a two-out error by Jeff Kent. But in the fourth, Hudson allowed three straight singles that wouldn’t have happened if Rafael Furcal weren’t wearing the wrong uniform. Furcal had the first of the singles and scored to tie the game; KJ botched a possible double play to get out of the inning — started by a genuinely nice play by Renteria, I’ll admit — allowing the Dodgers to take the lead.

The Braves then spent most of the next few innings looking like they wanted to get home, as Lowe mowed them down almost in order and with very little resistence. Wilson Betemit hit a pinch-hit homer off of Hudson to make it 3-1. The Braves got runners first and third, one out, off of a reliever in the eighth, but Chipper struck out and Andruw grounded out to third.

Then Kali, who had been pitching well, imploded in the ninth, allowing two hits and a walk; Colyer came in to allow two more hits to score Kali’s remaining baserunners, and Paronto had to finish the inning. Colyer is awful. This is another example of the foolishness of the win stat; Hudson pitched more than well enough to win, and it’s the bullpen that wound up costing the Braves any chance.

Particularly because with two out in the ninth the Braves bats woke up, but it wasn’t enough. They loaded the bases, forcing the Dodgers to go to their closer, then KJ singled home two to bring the tying run to the plate, but Renteria grounded out.