ATLANTA -- Brandon Beachy isn't making the Los Angeles Dodgers feel any better about their top-heavy pitching rotation.
Beachy has made two major league starts since a second round of Tommy John rehab and he has yet to make a pitch in the fifth inning. He got hit hard in the Dodgers' 7-5 loss to the Atlanta Braves, his former team, on Monday night at Turner Field.
How it happened: Beachy's costliest -- and silliest -- mistake was a five-pitch walk to opposing pitcher Matt Wisler in the fourth inning. Jace Peterson followed by slicing a two-run double down the left-field line. Beachy also gave up a home run to Braves outfielder Nick Markakis in the first, his first home run of the season.
The Dodgers rallied, scoring four runs in the fifth inning with two outs. Howie Kendrick had a two-run double and Adrian Gonzalez turned on a high fastball and hit a two-run home run, his 21st of the season. But Beachy's short outing forced the Dodgers to use the weakest portion of their bullpen to handle the middle innings. Adam Liberatore gave up a run in the fifth on a Juan Uribe single and Joel Peralta had a rough sixth inning. Peralta's struggles were fanned by a Yasiel Puig misplay. He fired a throw home even though Pedro Ciriaco had no intention of testing his arm. That allowed Peterson to take off for second. Catcher Austin Barnes' throw to second nailed Peterson, but Ciriaco took home on the play.
The Dodgers have been terrible running the bases this season and there was more of that in the eighth inning. With nobody out, Gonzalez tried lumbering home from second on Scott Van Slyke's ground-ball single to left field. Eury Perez made an accurate throw and he was out fairly easily. The Dodgers did not score in the inning despite leading it off with three straight hits.
The Dodgers tried to rally again in the ninth off Atlanta closer Jim Johnson, but Howie Kendrick's double-play ball took the steam out of it.
What it means: The Dodgers will give Beachy more time to build his body and confidence after the long layoff, but his first two starts have added urgency to their pursuit of a starting pitcher by the July 31 non-waiver deadline.
Notable: Justin Turner had four hits, including a double. Oddly, though, the Dodgers' cleanup hitter didn't drive in or score a run. … Beachy's night could have been worse had the Dodgers not made a couple of fine defensive plays for him. Howie Kendrick made a diving stop to take a potential hit away from Jace Peterson leading off the first and Joc Pederson made a nice running catch on Cameron Maybin's line drive in the alley. He nearly collided with Puig, who was chasing the same ball at the same angle. … Jimmy Rollins predicted he would hit better after the All-Star break, but it hasn't worked out that way yet. Rollins is 0-for-15 since the break. … The middle innings were played amid intermittent thunder, lightning and rain showers.
Up next: The teams resume the series Tuesday night at 4:10 p.m. Brett Anderson (5-5, 3.17 ERA) pitches for the Dodgers, who will face Alex Wood (6-6, 3.76 ERA).