Kemp quiets trade rumors, leads Dodgers to victory for 2nd straight night
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Los Angeles, CA - For the second straight night, Matt Kemp boosted the Dodgers into the victory column.
That's a game-winning 1B for Matt Kemp, batting .486 last nine games. #Dodgers
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) July 31, 2014
Kemp's base hit scored Justin Turner in the 10th inning to lift Los Angeles to a 3-2 win over the Atlanta Braves.
He also homered in the second inning and scored LA's other run in the eighth on Juan Uribe's infield single.
A night earlier, Kemp delivered a pair of two-run homers, including one that capped a three-run seventh inning in an 8-4 win.
Ninth career walkoff hit for @TheRealMattKemp -- who is 6 for 8 with six RBI and four runs in past two games.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 31, 2014
Kenley Jansen's 13-game scoreless streak came to an end when Justin Upton crushed a hanging breaking ball well over the wall in left for a solo homer to tie the game in the ninth inning.
Atlanta had a base-running blunder in the 10th that proved costly when Jordan Schafer was picked off second. B.J. Upton, who had struck out in all four previous at-bats Wednesday and six straight times overall, then drew a walk and stole second base. Tommy La Stella, though, struck out to cap the frame against J.P. Howell.
Turner hit for Howell (3-3) in the bottom half and singled to center before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Kemp then singled sharply to left off David Hale (3-3) and the throw home was late, giving the NL West leaders their fifth straight win.
Zack Greinke piled up 13 strikeouts, his most as a Dodger, and gave up five hits and a run over eight innings. Atlanta starter Alex Wood fanned eight and allowed six hits over seven frames.