Matt Kemp has overcome his second half struggles with clutch hits on consecutive days for the Los Angeles Dodgers that could very well lead them in their playoff hunt. For a second straight day, Kemp had the game-winning hit for the Dodgers, as they took over first place in the NL West with a 3-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. After hitting the game-winning three-run home run in the eighth inning on Saturday night, Kemp had a walk-off, two-run double in the ninth inning on Sunday, breaking a first-place tie with the D-backs.
The Dodgers took three of four from Arizona over the weekend, as both of Kemp's game-winning hits came off of Diamondbacks' reliever Archie Bradley. Both of the hits went to deep left-center field, with one of them leaving the ballpark, Bradley tried to calm down the D-backs faithful, saying after the game "don't panic, it's only one loss."
Arizona also falls a half-game behind the Colorado Rockies, who earned a 4-2 win over the San Diego Padres on Sunday. The D-backs thought they had this game won after the top of the ninth, when Daniel Descalso connected with a go-ahead, solo home run just out of the reach of a leaping Cody Bellinger in left-center field.
At one point, the Dodgers trailed by 4.5 games for the top spot in the NL West as soon as August 22nd, but they have gone 8-1 since, including three straight 3-2 victories. They now have sole possession of first place in the NL West for the first time since August 7th. Kenley Jansen earned his first win after one inning of work, while Brad Boxberger suffered his fifth loss for Arizona.
The Diamondbacks will return home on Monday night to host the San Diego Padres for Labor Day. The Dodgers will also be at home on Labor Day to take on the New York Mets.
The Dodgers took three of four from Arizona over the weekend, as both of Kemp's game-winning hits came off of Diamondbacks' reliever Archie Bradley. Both of the hits went to deep left-center field, with one of them leaving the ballpark, Bradley tried to calm down the D-backs faithful, saying after the game "don't panic, it's only one loss."
Arizona also falls a half-game behind the Colorado Rockies, who earned a 4-2 win over the San Diego Padres on Sunday. The D-backs thought they had this game won after the top of the ninth, when Daniel Descalso connected with a go-ahead, solo home run just out of the reach of a leaping Cody Bellinger in left-center field.
At one point, the Dodgers trailed by 4.5 games for the top spot in the NL West as soon as August 22nd, but they have gone 8-1 since, including three straight 3-2 victories. They now have sole possession of first place in the NL West for the first time since August 7th. Kenley Jansen earned his first win after one inning of work, while Brad Boxberger suffered his fifth loss for Arizona.
The Diamondbacks will return home on Monday night to host the San Diego Padres for Labor Day. The Dodgers will also be at home on Labor Day to take on the New York Mets.