Matt Kemp’s Bat Helps Dodgers Take 3 of 4 from Diamondbacks

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Matt Kemp has enjoyed a renaissance of sorts this season, with a fine first half of the season that resulted in his selection to the All Star team for the first time since 2012. He cooled down a bit in the month following that, but picked it up again in the second half of August and on into September. On September 1st and 2nd, Kemp’s hitting helped propel the Dodgers to two wins over the Arizona Diamondbacks as Los Angeles took three of four from Arizona and took over 1st place in the National League West.

Kemp hit a three run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning in the September 1st game, driving in all the Dodgers’ runs in a 3-2 victory.

Then Kemp hit a two run double in the bottom of the ninth inning to drive in the winning runs in another 3-2 win on September 2nd. At the end of the day on September 2nd, Los Angeles (75-62) led second place Colorado (74-62) by a half game. Arizona was knocked down to third in the West at 74-63, one game back. The Dodgers have six games left with Arizona, three at home and three on the road, and three at Arizona in what should be a down to the wire race.