Andre Ethier powers Dodgers past Braves, 6-3

Dodgers 6, Atlanta 3

KEY MOMENT: It had been two weeks since the Dodgers came back from any deficit past the second inning when Andre Ethier stepped into the batter’s box in the eighth inning. With the score tied, Ethier cracked a 91-mph fastball over the right-field wall. The blast gave the Dodgers the lead and the comeback win.

AT THE PLATE: Earlier in the game, the Dodgers loaded the base three times and mustered two runs, but not because they hit the ball hard. In the first inning, Ethier walked to knock in the game’s first run. In the seventh inning, Adrian Gonzalez hit a dribbler up the first base line, which was enough to score the tying run on a fielder’s choice. Scott Van Slyke twice ended innings with the bases loaded, first on a pop out, then on a double-play ground ball. In the eighth inning, though, the home runs finally came. After Ethier’s blast, Alex Guerrero hit a two-run home run and Jimmy Rollins added a solo shot for a 6-2 lead.

ON THE MOUND: The Dodgers cannot afford more injuries to an already-depleted rotation. So when Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly and trainer Stan Conte visited the mound in the middle of Brett Anderson’s start, the fans held their breath. Anderson was pitching well but had thrown an alarming wild pitch to Freddie Freeman. Earlier, catcher A.J. Ellis noticed Anderson appeared to be having back tightness. “It just got kind of tight there, and I almost hit Freeman in the face and my mechanics got out of whack,” Anderson said. “I don’t know if I was babying it or thought it was a bigger deal than it was, but I was able to get back to my mechanics.” Anderson stayed in and gave up two runs in seven innings. Afterward, he did not appear concerned. “With my track record and history unfortunately, you’re going to take every precaution necessary,” he said. Adam Liberatore, pitching in relief, got the win. Kenley Jansen earned the save after Chris Hatcher gave up a run in the ninth inning.

EXTRA BASES: Catcher Yasmani Grandal, who is on the seven-day concussion disabled list, will play three rehab games as a designated hitter with triple-A Oklahoma City starting Tuesday. He can rejoin the Dodgers as early as Saturday. … The Dodgers plan to call up a starting pitcher for their doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies on June 2, Mattingly said. … Gonzalez’s dribbler in the seventh inning accounted for his 999th career run batted in.

UP NEXT: Left-hander Clayton Kershaw (2-3, 4.32 ERA) will face Atlanta Braves right-hander Julio Teheran (4-1, 3.91) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Dodger Stadium. TV: SportsNet LA, ESPN; Radio: 570, 1020.

— Zach Helfand