Smoltz Stymies Dodgers : Baseball: He extends his shutout streak against L.A. to 22 innings before Piazza’s two-run homer. The Braves hold on, 3-2.

ATLANTA —  The Dodgers finally ended John Smoltz’s shutout streak against them, but the Braves’ Ron Gant robbed Eric Karros of extra bases in the eighth inning to preserve Atlanta’s 3-2 victory Tuesday night.

Smoltz (12-9), undefeated in three starts this season against the Dodgers, gave up six hits in 7 2/3 innings to beat Ramon Martinez (8-8). Smoltz shut out the Dodgers on two hits until the sixth, extending his streak against them to 22 innings, before Jody Reed singled and Mike Piazza hit a two-run homer, his 24th.

“Ramon Martinez pitched a hell of a ballgame tonight, but it wasn’t good enough,” Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda said. “The ball that Karros hit (in the eighth inning) I thought was in there. I don’t know how Gant) caught that ball.”

After Piazza’s single gave the Dodger runners on first and second with two out in the eighth, Greg McMichael came on to replace Smoltz. Gant then made a diving catch of Karros’ line drive to shallow left field to end the inning.

McMichael gave up a one-out double to Cory Snyder before striking out Tim Wallach and pinch-hitter Dave Hansen to end the game and earn his eighth save.

Martinez, who has lost four consecutive decisions and has not won since July 15, gave up six hits, struck out three and walked six in six innings.

Combined with Pittsburgh’s 10-3 victory over first-place San Francisco, the Braves moved within 6 1/2 games of the NL West-leading Giants. It’s the closest the two-time defending West champions have been to the Giants since June 17.

Atlanta has made up three games during its eight-game winning streak and has the best record in the majors since the All-Star break at 23-8.

“I’m happy to see the margin cut,” Atlanta Manager Bobby Cox said. “It’s certainly been a long time. It’s starting to move a bit in our direction.”

The Braves, who are only 2-5 against the Giants this season, will play San Francisco six times in the next two weeks, beginning with a three-game series on the road on Monday.

“We know we can’t look ahead, but we’ve got to try to put as much heat on them until we play,” Smoltz said.

Added Lasorda: “If they have a chance at all, you have to say it’s a realistic chance.”

The Braves, playing before 49,469 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium--the largest regular season attendance for the Braves this year--took a 2-0 lead in the third. Jeff Blauser and Gant singled with none out, and David Justice drew a one-out walk, loading the bases against Martinez.

Terry Pendleton hit into a force out at second, scoring Blauser, and when shortstop Jose Offerman’s throw was wild to first, Gant also scored.

The Braves added a run in the fourth on a single by Deion Sanders, scoring Damon Berryhill, who had walked, taken second on a single by Mark Lemke and third on Smoltz’s groundout.