Jason Schmidt, 3 relievers combine on 3-hitter, Dodgers beat Braves 5-0

Schmidt, Dodgers blank Braves 5-0

ATLANTA — Jason Schmidt gave up one hit in his longest start in more than two years, Andre Ethier hit a homer and drove in four runs and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 5-0 on Friday night.

Schmidt, Ramon Troncoso, George Sherrill and James McDonald combined on a three-hitter. McDonald retired the final six batters.

Ethier hit a three-run homer in the fifth off Tommy Hanson (5-2) and added a run-scoring double in the ninth.

Schmidt (2-1) walked five and struck out three in six innings, his longest start since going six innings for the Dodgers at San Diego on June 5, 2007. The right-hander made his third start of the season after missing 2008 following surgery on his right shoulder.

Sherrill, acquired from Baltimore on Wednesday, struck out the side in the seventh in his debut with the Dodgers.

After Troncoso gave up singles to Diory Hernandez and pinch-hitter Greg Norton, Sherrill struck out Nate McLouth and Kelly Johnson before walking Chipper Jones to load the bases. Sherrill got Brian McCann on a called third strike to end the inning.

Jones’ third-inning single was the only hit off Schmidt.

Hanson gave up eight hits and four runs in six innings to lose his second straight start.

Russell Martin and Rafael Furcal reached on fifth-inning singles before scoring on Ethier’s homer.

Ethier leads the Dodgers with his career-best 21 homers. He passed James Loney for the team lead with 65 RBIs.

Orlando Hudson walked and scored on Furcal’s single in the seventh, pushing the lead to 4-0.

Manny Ramirez was 1 for 4 with two strikeouts on the one-year anniversary of his trade to Los Angeles from Boston.

NOTES: Braves manager Bobby Cox said OF Ryan Church (elbow) and SS Yunel Escobar (bruised right wrist) were unavailable. 2B Martin Prado (bruised left ankle) did not start and hit a deep fly ball to center in the ninth as a pinch-hitter. … Cox had to change his lineup after the team traded 1B Casey Kotchman to Boston for 1B Adam LaRoche. 1B Barbaro Canizares started after he was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett before the game. … RHP Tim Hudson was scratched from his injury rehab start at Gwinnett with a mild groin strain. … Sherrill filled the roster spot of RHP Claudio Vargas, traded to Milwaukee on Friday for minor league C Vinny Rottino.