ATLANTA - Los Angeles manager Don Mattingly says the Dodgers have seen flashes of promise in Brandon Beachy's first two starts following his second Tommy John surgery.

The unanswered question is, can they stick with an inconsistent Beachy as they try to retain the NL West lead?

Beachy gave up four runs in four innings, and the Dodgers overcame an early four-run deficit before losing to the Atlanta Braves 7-5 on Monday night.

Beachy, who began his career with Atlanta, said he was "very frustrated" by his three walks, including one to Braves pitcher Matt Wisler that loaded the bases in the fourth and set up Jace Peterson's two-run double.

"Obviously, that's unacceptable," Beachy said.

"It takes me a little bit to get settled in and I do and then I just make a mistake," he added. "It turns around quickly."

Nick Markakis hit his first home of 2015, a two-run shot to centre field off Beachy in the first inning.

Beachy has a 7.88 ERA through two starts, each lasting only four innings.

Asked if he can stay with Beachy, Mattingly said: "It's one of those things that we'll continue to talk about and discuss."

Mattingly said there was "some good, some bad" in this start.

"We're still seeing flashes of good, throwing the ball where he wants it, it looks like, and then flashes of just kind of not being able to really locate what he wants to do," Mattingly said.

Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run homer and Howie Kendrick doubled in two runs for the Dodgers in the fifth for a 4-all tie.

Markakis scored the go-ahead run on Juan Uribe's fifth-inning single.

Wisler (4-1) allowed four runs and eight hits in six innings.

Peterson drove in three runs with two hits for Atlanta.

Jim Johnson earned his seventh save, but his streak of 18 consecutive scoreless outings ended when he allowed a ninth-inning run.

Austin Barnes, called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City when catcher A.J. Ellis was placed on the disabled list, had a leadoff single for his second hit. Yasmani Grandal, who left Sunday's game at Washington after taking a ball off his mask, added a pinch-hit single, and Joc Pederson singled to load the bases.

Barnes scored when Kendrick hit into a double play, and Gonzalez grounded out to end the game.

The Braves took the lead against Adam Liberatore (2-2) in the fifth. Markakis doubled and scored on Uribe's single past shortstop Jimmy Rollins. Atlanta acquired Uribe from the Dodgers in a six-player trade on May 27.

BIG THROW

Gonzalez singled in the eighth and moved to second on Justin Turner's third hit, a single off Andrew McKirahan. Pinch-hitter Scott Van Slyke singled off Arodys Vizcaino, but left fielder Eury Perez threw out Gonzalez at the plate.

Honour FOR SUTTON

Atlanta broadcaster and former Dodgers star right-hander Don Sutton was inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame at a luncheon Monday. Sutton, who won 324 games with the Dodgers, Astros, Brewers and Angels, was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Dodgers: An MRI showed no structural damage in Ellis' right knee. Ellis was put on the 15-day DL with inflammation in the knee. Mattingly said Ellis began having discomfort on the flight to Atlanta. ... OF Carl Crawford, out since April 28 with a right oblique strain, joined the team and likely will be activated Tuesday.

Braves: 1B Freddie Freeman (right wrist) was upbeat after playing catch and hitting off a tee before the game. He could begin a rehab stint as soon as Tuesday. ... McKirahan gave up two hits without getting an out in the eighth after he was reinstated from his 80-game suspension following a positive test for the banned substance Ipamorelin. RHP Ryan Kelly was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett.

UP NEXT

Dodgers: LHP Brett Anderson, who is 3-1 with a 2.48 ERA in his last six starts, faces the Braves on Tuesday night.

Braves: LHP Alex Wood (6-6) is 1-0 with a 1.08 ERA in four career games, including two starts, against the Dodgers.