Dodgers 4, Diamondbacks 2
Matt Kemp blasted a three-run homer in the first inning to keep his slim triple crown hopes alive and the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-2 on Monday.
Arizona remains one game behind Milwaukee in the race for home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Brewers lost 9-8 to Pittsburgh on Monday.
Dana Eveland (3-2) threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings to earn the win, and Javy Guerra worked a perfect ninth for his 21st save.
Kemp, who is seeking to become the first triple crown winner in 44 years, took the league lead with his 38th home run off Daniel Hudson (16-12), who allowed four runs over seven innings.
The Dodgers’ MVP candidate also leads the NL with 123 RBIs, but his .324 average trails both Ryan Braun and Jose Reyes by 10 points.
Leading 4-0, Dodgers pitchers walked five batters in the bottom of the eighth, but Arizona was able to score just twice in the inning.
Arizona’s Justin Upton was scratched from the lineup for precautionary reasons after being hit in the helmet with a pitch by San Francisco’s Tim Lincecum on Sunday.