Matt Kemp homered and drove in five runs, leading the Dodgers to a 9-5 win over the Diamondbacks in the opening game of a three-game series at Dodger Stadium. The nine runs scored were a season high at home for the Dodgers, who have won nine of their last 11 games at home. For Kemp, the home run was a milestone in what is becoming a great season for him.
Kemp's home run was his 25th of the year to go along with his 27 stolen bases. Kemp's season is the seventh 25/25 season in Dodgers history, and at 105 team games Kemp is the fifth fastest in National League history to join the 25/25 club. The only ones faster were Eric Davis (83 team games, 1987), Bobby Bonds (93, 1973), Alfonso Soriano (97, 2006), and Howard Johnson (99, 1989). "It shows that hard work and focus, plus talent, is a good combination," manager Don Mattingly said of Kemp after the game.
The Bison wasn't alone in the Dodgers offensive attack. Andre Ethier reached base four times, Aaron Miles had two hits and two runs scored, and Juan Rivera hit two doubles for the third time this season, and first time as a Dodger. Those nine runs made a winner of Ted Lilly, who allowed three runs in his five innings.
Justin Upton homered in the seventh inning, and has been on fire of late. In his last 10 games, Upton has 19 hits in 38 at-bats with six doubles, a triple, and six home runs. However, he also made a two-base error in the bottom of the inning, and made a poor throw home on a sacrifice fly by Jamey Carroll, allowing molasses-footed Dioner Navarro to score.
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