Matt Kemp shines as Los Angeles Dodgers beat Atlanta Braves 5-3 – MLB Update
The National League’s Los Angeles Dodgers overpowered the league rival Atlanta Braves 5-3 in a twelve innings long game at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles on Thursday, April 21.
Matt Kemp hammered a walk-off home run to help the club clinch a four-game series 3-1.
Chasing a one run deficit in the top of the sixth inning, the Dodgers’ hitter Juan Uribe launched a tying homer off the Braves’ starter Jair Jurrjens. The Braves’ relieved tired Jurrjens with George Sherrill, but he could not restrict Casey Black from smashing
a 398-feet long leading homer.
Despite receiving a homer, the Dodgers’ manager Don Mattingly expressed full confidence on the abilities of Kershaw and let him throw. Kershaw performed to the expectations of the manager, as he did not allow any run and made three more strike-outs in his
next three innings. Just before, he was about to complete his eighth inning, he got a hit for an RBI double that sent the opponents one run ahead 2-3.
The Dodgers’ starter Clayton Kershaw was pleased with the late contribution of Kemp. He said, "Matty's awesome. I told him what an incredible job he did and thanks for picking me up. In that situation, where both bullpens are getting eaten up, for Matty
to pull it out like that with a 0-2 count, it was an awesome at-bat."
Kershaw made these comments, as he was the one who gave up all three runs to the Braves. He retired 10 of the first 12 batters he faced until the fourth inning when he gave up a single to Alex Gonzalez. In the fifth, he received a grand slam by the Braves’
rookie Freddie Freeman to put Atlanta 1-0 in front.
It seemed as if the Braves had snatched a victory in the ninth, but Black drove in an RBI single forcing the outing to extra innings. The game became interesting as both closers were under extreme pressure, however, the Dodgers’ Matt Guerrier was fortunate
to not to receive any run. The Braves’ closer Cristhian Martinez came into the swinging circle of Kemp’s bat and went out of the park for two runs.
Though Kershaw was hit for three runs, he was pleased at receiving the manager’s confidence. He said. "I love the fact that Donnie had enough confidence to keep me out there. I want the ball in that situation so that win or lose; it would be in my hands.
You know, 27 outs are hard to get, so I learned my lesson today.”
The Braves’ starter Jurrjens pitched six innings, allowed one run on seven hits, walked two and made six strike-outs.
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