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Turner powers Dodgers past Braves, 5-3 in 10 innings

Apr 21, 2016 - 4:03 AM ATLANTA (AP) Although Justin Turner had the biggest hit, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts saved his biggest compliments for his bullpen for bailing out rookie right-hander Ross Stripling.

Turner gave Los Angeles the lead with a 10th-inning double and the Dodgers beat Atlanta 5-3 on Wednesday night to snap the Braves' four-game winning streak.

Six Los Angeles relievers combined to allow only one hit over 6 1/3 innings.

''It was just a grind for Ross today, but to see the bullpen come out and pick him up, it was a big win for us,'' Roberts said.

The Braves failed in a bid to become the first team to win five straight games after starting a season 0-9, according to STATS.

Braves rookie center fielder Mallex Smith, charging toward left field, made a diving attempt for Turner's sinking drive off Jason Grilli (1-1), but the ball bounced off his glove. Smith slipped and crawled before finally retrieving the ball as Chase Utley, who led off with a single, scored from second. Yasmani Grandal added a run-scoring single off Alexi Ogando.

Joe Blanton (1-1) pitched a scoreless ninth. Kenley Jansen got the final three outs for his sixth save.

Making only his third start, Stripling allowed three runs, two earned, on six hits and two walks in 3 2/3 innings. He struggled from the first inning, when he threw 27 pitches.

''I was really not able to get into any rhythm,'' Stripling said.

Daniel Castro's two-run single in the fourth gave the Braves a 3-0 lead. Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run homer off Eric O'Flaherty to tie it in the sixth.

Braves starter Julio Teheran left with a 3-1 lead after allowing a one-out single to Turner in the sixth. Gonzalez hit O'Flaherty's second pitch over the wall in center field to tie the game.

Teheran's start was pushed back one day due to an illness, and he was seen coughing in the dugout between innings. He allowed two runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings.

NO EXCUSES

Grilli allowed two runs on two hits while recording only one out in the 10th.

''I'm not going to make any excuses,'' Grilli said.

PRESIDENTIAL PRESERVERANCE

Former President Jimmy Carter, wearing a Braves cap, and wife Rosalynn sat in their usual seats near the Atlanta dugout and stayed for the full game. Carter, 91, announced on March 6 that he no longer needs treatment for cancer. He announced last year he had been diagnosed with melanoma that spread to his brain.

ROSTER MOVE

The Braves optioned right-hander Williams Perez to Triple-A Gwinnett before the game. Right-hander Casey Kelly was recalled from Gwinnett.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Dodgers: Roberts said RHP Pedro Baez was unavailable because he was hit by a baseball ''square on the back of his head'' in the bullpen. Roberts said Baez was having tests, but may be back Thursday. ... Travel problems interfered with OF Carl Crawford's scheduled rehab start for Triple-A Oklahoma City. Roberts said Crawford, recovering from a lower back strain, had ''flight issues.'' The problem could delay Crawford coming off the disabled list on Sunday. ... Roberts said IF-OF Scott Van Slyke (lower back irritation) is ''doing well'' with core exercises in Los Angeles and could begin baseball activities early next week.

Braves: 3B Adonis Garcia was scratched from the starting lineup with a left knee contusion after being hit by a pitch from Alex Wood in Tuesday night's game. Garcia hit a groundout as a pinch-hitter in the 10th. Castro made the fill-in start.

UP NEXT

Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw will try to improve to 3-0 this season and 3-0 in his career against the Braves on Thursday. He has a 1.79 ERA in six career starts against Atlanta.

Braves: RHP Matt Wisler, who earned his first career save when pressed into a relief role Sunday, returns to the rotation for his second career start against Los Angeles. He gave up four runs in six innings, but earned the win in a 7-5 victory over the Dodgers on July 20, 2015.