May 27, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Atlanta Braves center fielder Cameron Maybin (25) hits a home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the third inning of the game at Dodger Stadium. Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
LOS ANGELES — Center fielder Cameron Maybin homered, and the Atlanta Braves avoided a three-game sweep by holding off the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 on Wednesday night before a crowd of 37,837 at Dodger Stadium.
Braves starter Alex Wood (3-2) limited the Dodgers to a run for seven innings, striking out six, walking two and scattering seven hits as Atlanta (23-23) snapped a two-game skid. Reliever Jim Johnson pitched a perfect eighth, fanning two batters, before closer Jason Grilli survived a rocky ninth for his 14th save.
Grilli served up a solo home run to left fielder Alex Guerrero, his ninth this season, and a single to pinch-hitter Andre Ethier before forcing Ethier at second and inducing pinch-hitter Alberto Callaspo, who made his Dodger debut, to fly out to center.
The Dodgers (28-18) had won four of their last five before Wednesday’s loss.
A wild pitch by reliever Adam Liberatore, scoring shortstop Andrelton Simmons, in the eighth allowed the Braves to take a 2-1 lead with two outs. Right fielder Nick Markakis, who was 1-for-3, added a run-scoring, ground-rule double to give Atlanta a two-run advantage.
Los Angeles reliever Chris Hatcher (1-4) was charged with both runs on one hit and a walk after he failed to retire a batter in the eighth.
Dodgers starter Zack Greinke gave up a run on three hits with nine strikeouts and two walks in six innings.
Atlanta third baseman Juan Uribe faced his former teammates for the first time. Uribe, who was part of a six-player exchange between the two clubs earlier Wednesday that included Callaspo, went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and an intentional walk.
Center fielder Cameron Maybin pounded a Greinke pitch for a solo home run to center with one out in the third inning, giving Atlanta a 1-0 lead. It was Maybin’s fifth homer of the season.
Dodgers shortstop Jimmy Rollins singled to lead off the fourth. Three batters later, Rollins tied the game at 1 when he scored on Justin Turner’s RBI single. The ball bounced into shallow right after shortstop Andrelton Simmons appeared to get a glove on the ball but failed to grasp it.
NOTES: Atlanta INF Chris Johnson, who was out since May 1 due to a broken left hand, was activated from the 15-day disabled list, but he didn’t start the game. … The Dodgers recalled OF Chris Heisey and designated RHP Sergio Santos for assignment. LHP Eric Stults, obtained in the six-player trade between the two clubs, also was designated for assignment. Los Angeles optioned LHP Ian Thomas to Triple-A Oklahoma City and assigned RHP Juan Jaime to extended spring training in Arizona. The Braves outrighted Jaime to the minors last month. … Atlanta resumes its 10-game trip Thursday when it starts a four-game set against the San Francisco Giants. … After a day off Thursday, the Dodgers open a weekend series against the Cardinals in St. Louis.
