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Matt Kemp lead the National League in runs, home runs, RBI, and total bases. He finished tied for second in stolen bases, and third in batting average.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have reached the final game of their season, which means there is one game left for Matt Kemp to shine. The Arizona Diamondbacks still have a shot at clinching the second seed in the National League playoffs -- they need a win plus a loss by the Milwaukee Brewers -- so the game isn't completely devoid of meaning. Kemp has several statistical goals in play.
Kemp is currently tied for first in the NL in home runs and tied for second in steals. He is trying to become the first player to finish in the top two of both categories since Hank Aaron in 1963. Hank Aaron!
Finally, Kemp's 2011 season has been so good that he could have no hits in his next 105 at-bats and still have an OPS higher than his previous career high for a full season, of .842 in 2009.
Wednesday's 6:40 p.m. PDT game will be televised by Prime Ticket. Be sure to read True Blue LA for a detailed breakdown of the milestones in store for Matt Kemp in the season's final game.
Dodgers Vs. Diamondbacks: Matt Kemp Leads NL In Home Runs, RBI, Runs, & Total Bases
Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Matt Kemp became the first Dodger in 70 years to lead the National League in home runs and RBI, as his two-run homer in the seventh inning capped his MVP-caliber season and Los Angeles' 7-5 victory over the NL West champion Arizona Diamondbacks.
While Kemp had a banner season individually with 39 home runs and 126 RBI, the Diamondbacks owned their division and will open the postseason in Milwaukee on Saturday. They had a chance to earn the No. 2 seed, but the Brewers won their regular season finale to secure home-field advantage in the National League Division Series.
Ted Lilly (12-14) allowed just three hits and one walk in seven scoreless innings for the Dodgers, who finished with an 82-79 record in Don Mattingly's first season as manager.
Joe Saunders (12-13) was touched for five runs on nine hits for Arizona, which went 94-68 to win the West by eight games over the second-place Giants.
The D-Backs overcame a five-run deficit in the 10th inning on Tuesday when Ryan Roberts's grand slam punctuated a remarkable comeback.
They trailed 7-0 in the ninth on Wednesday and inched closer thanks to another grand slam, this one coming off the bat of Cole Gillespie. Ramon Troncoso was pulled after yielding another homer to Henry Blanco, and Kenley Jansen retired the final two hitters to notch his fifth save.
The Dodgers went ahead on Juan Rivera's sacrifice fly in the first inning, and Justin Sellers doubled in a run in the third.
Jamey Carroll tripled home Jerry Sands in the fourth and scored on Lilly's single for a 4-0 cushion.
James Loney took Saunders deep in the sixth, and Kemp's two-run blast an inning later came off Wade Miley.
Kemp had a chance at a rare 40-home run, 40-stolen base season, but struck out in the ninth. He also just missed out on the Triple Crown, as his .324 batting average was third behind Ryan Braun (.332) and Jose Reyes (.337).
Game Notes
Kemp ended the season on a 12-game hitting streak...The last Dodger to lead the NL in homers and RBI was Dolph Camilli in 1941...Arizona won the season series, 10-8...Due to a rainout against the Nationals earlier this year, the Dodgers did not play a full 162-game schedule for the first time in a non strike-shortened season since playing 160 in 1989.
Sep 28 10:57p by Eric Stephen