For the Dodgers, It’s Looking Bleak

There comes a time when rational people address their shortcomings--and the Dodgers have reached that point.

Many players now acknowledge the team’s goal of making the playoffs is fading, and that they might not have enough time--or talent--to turn things around.

The Atlanta Braves provided the reality check Saturday afternoon, seemingly playing as poorly as they could but still defeating the Dodgers, 5-3, before a crowd of 41,240 at Dodger Stadium.

“I don’t know what it’s going to take to get this team going,” said right fielder Gary Sheffield, who pinch-hit in the eighth inning.

“Ever since I’ve been here, we just can’t get any momentum. We’ve won a few games that you think would get us going, but then nothing [happens]. We haven’t beat the teams that we should beat, and that just makes it tougher.

“Everybody is still trying to get it [the National League wild-card berth], but other teams are going to have to play awfully bad for us to have a chance. That’s just where we’re at right now.”

The Dodgers dropped under .500 at 61-62 after their 10th loss in 14 games, and fifth in the last six. This marks the first time they’ve been under .500 since July 13, when they were 45-46.

With New York’s 5-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Dodgers dropped 6 1/2 games behind the Mets in the wild-card race.

“It’s mind-boggling to think that we haven’t won eight or nine [games] in a row yet,” said third baseman Bobby Bonilla, who went two for three with two runs batted in. “No matter how much we talk about the wild card, we’re still going to have to do that.

“We haven’t even won [four] in a row. And we’re not going to be able to get there from here unless we put something together.”

The NL East-leading Braves (82-41) improved to 5-0 against the Dodgers this season despite stranding 12 runners in a lackluster performance by their typically high standards.

John Smoltz (11-2) pitched seven strong innings. First baseman Andres Galarraga hit his second opposite-field, three-run home run in as many games to give Smoltz a 3-0 lead in the first inning. It was his 38th homer of the season. Closer Kerry Ligtenberg earned his second save in the series by pitching a scoreless ninth.

“We didn’t play that well today, and we gave the Dodgers some chances,” Smoltz said. “Unfortunately, they’re having some problems.”

With the Dodgers trailing, 5-3, in the eighth, Sheffield grounded into a double play with two on and none out while batting for Matt Luke. Luke started in place of Sheffield in right for the second game in a row because Sheffield has a sprained right thumb.

“Something has got to change,” said second baseman Eric Young, who hit a solo homer--his third home run of the season--against Smoltz in the fifth.

“What are we going to keep saying around here, that we can do it in September? By then it’s going to be too late. I mean, how many wake-up calls do we need?”

Chan Ho Park (10-7) struggled in losing for the second time in as many starts at home after winning 11 consecutive games at Dodger Stadium over the last two seasons. He struck out nine, but had a career-high six walks in six innings.

Park gave up seven hits and five runs--all earned--while throwing 115 pitches, 81 for strikes. The Braves scored runs in the fourth and sixth against Park after he quickly retired the first two batters in each inning.

“I made some bad pitches,” said Park, who lost for the first time in three decisions against the Braves. “After throwing three balls [to several hitters], I tried to come back with strikes. But I just didn’t have my good stuff today.”

Bonilla singled with the bases loaded in the bottom of the first, driving in two runs. The hit came after an error by second baseman Tony Graffanino prolonged the inning.

Dodger Manager Glenn Hoffman is trying to remain upbeat--but it’s not easy.

“We’re pressing, and we feel like every game is going to knock us out,” he said. “If it’s going to knock us out, then we might as well say that.

“But I don’t believe that’s going to happen. I believe that we can turn this around.”

But do his players?