Dodgers Dispatch Braves, Conflict

ATLANTA â€”  Another late Dodgers rally to put away a game. Another head-turning performance by a rookie, in this case outfielder Andre Ethier. Another gutsy start by reclamation project Aaron Sele.

Yet, words spoken in private might have had more impact than the considerable action on the field.

Recalcitrant pitcher Brad Penny and mild-mannered Manager Grady Little ended a potentially perilous standoff by talking through their differences shortly before the Dodgers’ 8-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field on Tuesday night.

Penny’s mysterious shoulder injury vanished as quickly as it appeared. And after showing no remorse less than an hour before the first pitch, Penny met with Little and cleared the air.

“We worked it out and it’s all fine,� said Little, declining to go into specifics.

A day earlier, Penny threw a tantrum on the field and in the dugout, directing his displeasure at Little for pulling him two outs short of qualifying for a victory, even though the Braves had produced six consecutive hits.

“It came in the heat of a battle and there was a lot of emotion there,� Little said. “Things are said that might be regretted later.�

Although Penny said he pitched with a sore shoulder two starts in a row, he got no sympathy for his actions from coaches or teammates. Trainer Stan Johnston examined the shoulder Tuesday and couldn’t detect any problems.

Johnston also said Penny hadn’t mentioned that his shoulder hurt during his start against the Colorado Rockies six days ago. Penny said he told Little that he wanted to come out of the game after five innings because of the pain, but that Little and pitching coach Rick Honeycutt urged him to continue -- which he did not do.

“The first time Brad mentioned it was the third inning of [Monday’s] game,� Johnston said. “It may be fatigue. It may be a dead-arm phase. He didn’t go through it in spring training when most guys do.�

Dr. Frank Jobe will examine Penny when the Dodgers return home Thursday. Penny, however, said the shoulder already felt better and that he expects to make his next start.

The Dodgers hope so. Despite the flare-up, they haven’t forgotten that Penny, who is in the first year of a three-year, $25-million deal, has been their best pitcher. He is 5-1 with a 2.87 earned-run average.

“He’s done a great job for us,� Little said. “He’s a great competitor.�

Little’s last job, with the Boston Red Sox, ended with his infamous decision to leave Pedro Martinez in a playoff game that sent the New York Yankees to the 2003 World Series. Red Sox fans haven’t forgiven him.

So it was ironic that his first crisis as Dodgers manager came as the result of removing a pitcher. The move worked perfectly -- the next batter hit into an inning-ending double play.

Little was patient with Sele, allowing him to grind through six innings despite his 60 pitches in the first three. Sele left with the score tied, 3-3, and Danys Baez (3-2) got the victory by holding the Braves scoreless in the seventh and eighth and benefiting from the Dodgers scoring five runs in the eighth and ninth.

Ethier hit a two-run homer on a changeup by Jorge Sosa to cap a three-run fourth inning, but that was no more impressive than his opposite-field single against left-handed reliever Mike Remlinger to drive in Nomar Garciaparra with the go-ahead run in the eighth.

Little stuck with the left-handed-hitting Ethier rather than using right-handed pinch-hitter.

“I had to grit through that at-bat and get it done,� Ethier said. “In the minor leagues, I always hit lefties well, but this is a bigger, grander stage.�

Although he had not played above double A, Ethier was acquired from the Oakland Athletics for two proven players whose talents were overshadowed by personal issues -- outfielder Milton Bradley and infielder Antonio Perez.

So far, Ethier has outplayed both of them, batting .313 with four homers and 12 runs batted in. Bradley is batting .246 with three homers and eight RBIs, and hasn’t played since April 24 because of an injury to the rib cage. Perez is one for 28 in 18 games.