Sheffield Leads Way to Victory

ATLANTA —  Struggling, their playoff hopes fading, the Dodgers acknowledged they had reached a crossroad.

Once again, Gary Sheffield led them to the right path.

The all-star left fielder hit a two-out, three-run home run in the eighth inning Monday to provide the difference in a 4-2 victory against the Atlanta Braves before 26,038 at Turner Field.

Sheffield’s timely blast to left field was the last of many highlight-reel moments for the Dodgers on a 5-2 trip they considered vital to remaining in the National League West and wild-card races.

“There’s no question about the fact that a subpar road trip, or a detrimental road trip, would have been very damaging for us,” said Manager Jim Tracy, whose club had lost 13 of 19 beginning the trip.

“We’re talking about the fact that there’s not a ton of time left to rectify the situation. But to come out here and do what we did on this trip, there’s a lot of things that are pointed in the right direction.”

The victory kept the Dodgers one game behind the Giants in the wild-card race and moved them within 31/2 of first-place Arizona in the West.

With the team trailing, 2-1, and runners on first and third, Sheffield hit a first-pitch fastball from reliever Jose Cabrera, stirring a celebration in the dugout and silencing the crowd with his 31st homer.

“I feel most comfortable in that situation,” he said. “I know my teammates rely on me and [right fielder Shawn Green], and we have to come through for these guys.

“We accept the challenges and we feed off of each other. In that situation, we’re looking for that moment every time.”

Setup man Matt Herges and closer Jeff Shaw completed the club’s third victory in four games against the East leaders after starter Terry Adams (10-6) went seven innings.

Herges pitched a scoreless eighth and Shaw a perfect ninth for his league-leading 37th save and third on the trip.

Adrian Beltre also continued to spark the Dodgers (72-59) in his new role atop the order. He was three for four with two runs and started the rally in the eighth with a one-out single against Mike Remlinger (3-3), who relieved Greg Maddux to start the inning.

Atlanta Manager Bobby Cox removed Maddux because he was tired after throwing 85 pitches in 86-degree temperature.

Cox then summoned Cabrera with Beltre on third and Jeff Reboulet on first after a walk.

Sheffield was looking for a fastball, which he got.

“[Cabrera] is one of those guys who throws real hard,” Sheffield said. “[Kevin Brown] is always teasing me about I can’t hit the guys who throw under 85 [mph].

“When these guys [power pitchers] come in, I’m more aggressive. They generate the power, you just try to be on time.”

Steve Karsay and John Smoltz are sharing closing duties for he Braves (72-59), but Cox said Karsay was not available because he had pitched in consecutive games.

Although Smoltz warmed up in the bullpen before and after Sheffield’s homer, Cox believed Cabrera was the right guy.

“We made one bad pitch, and that’s what tough hitters can do,” he said.

Tracy has seen it before.

“I know I’ve said this before, but there are a lot of elite premier players in the American and National leagues,” he said. “You can take ‘em all, put ‘em all together, and I’ll take that guy any time, any day, in a situation like that. I don’t care who it is.”

Sheffield and Green were outstanding on the trip.

Sheffield was 11 for 21 with three homers, eight runs batted in and eight runs. Green was 13 for 31 with five homers, eight RBIs and nine runs.

“Greenie and Sheff carried us--bottom line,” catcher Paul Lo Duca said. “Those two guys ... that’s why they’re Shawn Green and Gary Sheffield.

“They’re all-stars and they’ve been doing it for a long time. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

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Power Plus

Dodger teammates who have combined for at least 70 homers in one season:

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HR Players (No. of HR) Year 83 Duke Snider (42), Roy Campanella (41) 1953 82 Gil Hodges (42), Duke Snider (40) 1954 75 Duke Snider (43), Gil Hodges (32) 1956 74 Duke Snider (42), Roy Campanella (32) 1955 74 Gary Sheffield (43), Eric Karros (31) 2000 73 Gil Hodges (40), Roy Campanella (33) 1951 73 Duke Snider (42), Gil Hodges (31) 1953 73 Shawn Green (42), Gary Sheffield (31) 2001 72 Roy Campanella (41), Gil Hodges (31) 1953 71 Mike Piazza (40), Eric Karros (31) 1997 71 Mike Piazza (40), Todd Zeile (31) 1997 70 Mike Piazza (36), Eric Karros (34) 1996 70 Mike Piazza (40), Raul Mondesi (30) 1997

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