|
 "He's dangerous at the plate, and he's swinging it like he was
when he almost won the MVP," Gonzalez said of the Los Angeles
Dodgers right fielder. "He's swinging it pretty good."
Kemp's RBI single in the 10th inning lifted the Dodgers to a 3-2
victory over the Braves on Wednesday night before 47,386 fans at
Dodger Stadium.
Kemp went 3-for-4 with a homer and a walk, accounting for all three
runs as Los Angeles (61-47) captured a season-high fifth consecutive
win and handed the Braves (58-50) their second consecutive loss. The
Dodgers, who have won 14 of their 19 home games since June 13, can
sweep the series with a win Thursday.
In 11 games since the All-Star break, Kemp is batting .436 with
three home runs -- all against Atlanta in the past two games -- a
double, a triple and 11 RBIs.
"Just getting good pitches to hit, being more selective, being
patient," said Kemp, who recorded his ninth career walk-off hit.
"That's the key to good hitting, getting good pitches you can drive
and working the pitcher into making a mistake."
Pinch hitter Justin Turner singled to open the 10th and reached
second on a wild pitch. Kemp drove him home on a full-count single
to left off reliever David Hale (3-3).
"To win is always nice, especially one of those. It was exciting,"
Kemp said. "It was a good win for us tonight."
Dodgers reliever J.P. Howell (3-3) walked two and struck out one
while throwing a scoreless top of the 10th.
Braves left fielder Justin Upton smoked a 2-2 pitch from closer
Kenley Jansen for a solo blast to left to tie the score at 2 with no
outs in the ninth. It was Upton's 19th homer of the season.
"Justin had a great swing on that ball," Gonzalez said.
The Dodgers took a brief lead in the eighth inning. Kemp drew a
two-out pass from reliever Jordan Walden and advanced to second on
pinch hitter Carl Crawford's base hit. Kemp scored from second on
Juan Uribe's infield single. Atlanta shortstop Andrelton Simmons
gloved the ball behind second base, but he couldn't make the throw
to home quick enough to get Kemp.
Los Angeles starter Zack Greinke struck out a season-high 13 and
gave up a run on five hits with a walk in eight innings, but he did
not factor into the decision. Greinke, who threw 110 pitches (83
strikes), struck out Braves leadoff hitter B.J. Upton four times.
[to top of second column]
|
Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said it was Greinke's best outing of the
season.
"Good game all the way around," said Greinke, who has five double-digit
strikeout performances this year. The 13 strikeouts were the second most
in his career, trailing the 15 Cleveland Indians he fanned on Aug. 25,
2009, when he pitched for the Kansas City Royals. "Everything was
working pretty good. Didn't throw many curves, but the few (I did) were
located OK. For the most part, everything was pretty good."
Braves starter Alex Wood also had a strong outing, striking out eight
and allowing a run on six hits in seven innings. He threw 114 pitches
(68 strikes). The lone run Wood allowed was Kemp's home run in the
second inning.
"He made some tough pitches against a tough lineup," Gonzalez said.
"Every time he goes out, he gives you an opportunity."
Atlanta took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a two-out single by
Simmons that scored catcher Evan Gattis, who doubled.
Kemp led off the bottom of the second by driving a 1-1 pitch from Wood
over the wall in left-center field for a home run that tied the score.
It was Kemp 11th of the season.
NOTES: Atlanta RF Jason Heyward didn't play for the second consecutive
game because of back soreness. Manager Fredi Gonzalez said Heyward
probably will be held out for a few more games. ... RHP Jonathan
Martinez was sent by the Dodgers to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday to
complete the trade for INF Darwin Barney. Barney was optioned to
Triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday to get some work at shortstop and
third base. ... Braves RHP Julio Teheran (10-6, 2.71 ERA) will face
Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw (12-2, 1.76 ERA) in the series finale
Thursday.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
