Adrian Gonzalez, Dodgers crush Atlanta Braves, 8-0

KEY MOMENT: The Dodgers had scored two runs in the fourth inning when Andre Ethier stepped into the batter’s box. On Monday, he had hit the game-winning home run in the eighth. On Tuesday, he hit a two-run double to turn a 2-0 game into a 4-0 game. With the way Clayton Kershaw was pitching, the lead provide more than enough cushion.

AT THE PLATE: Like days of rain after a long drought, the runs have returned for the Dodgers. Their fourth inning was their most productive frame of the season. They batted around and scored six runs and had six hits. Howie Kendrick, Justin Turner, A.J. Ellis and Kershaw each drove in a run, and Ethier hit his two-run double. After the inning, every Dodgers batter had recorded a hit.

ON THE MOUND: Kershaw threw 99 pitches through seven innings, but Manager Don Mattingly elected to let him exit after striking out 10 batters. J.P. Howell pitched the eighth inning and Sergio Santos pitched the ninth.

MILESTONE: Adrian Gonzalez climbed the Dodgers dugout steps and waved to the crowd. A moment before, in the fifth inning, he had slugged an 0-and-1 pitch over the left-field wall for a two-run home run for his 1,000th and 1,001st runs batted in. He is the 12th active player to reach 1,000 RBIs.

EXTRA BASES: Yasiel Puig, who has been on the disabled list because of a hamstring injury, has begun hitting again, Mattingly said. He will report to the Dodgers’ spring-training complex in Arizona this weekend to continue his rehab.

UP NEXT: Right-hander Zack Greinke (5-1, 1.48 ERA) will face Atlanta Braves left-hander Alex Wood (2-2, 3.83) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Dodger Stadium. TV: SportsNet LA; Radio: 570, 1020.