Martin Prado delivered a two-out RBI single down the left field line off Blake Hawksowrth in the ninth inning, giving the Atlanta Braves a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers to prevent a series sweep at Turner Field in Atlanta. The loss snapped a six-game winning streak for the Dodgers, who seemed to have everything aligned perfectly earlier in the game.
With two runners on and first base open in the third inning, the Braves opted to pitch to Matt Kemp, and he made them pay with a laser beam three-run home run into the seats in left field. The Dodgers led 3-0 with Clayton Kershaw on the mound, and Kershaw was cruising through six innings.
Two singles, a throwing error by Aaron Miles, and a broken-bat bloop single by Brooks Conrad tied the game off Kershaw, ending his chance at an 18th win of the season. Kershaw will have to settle for a 10-strikeout, no-walk performance and an ERA that rose all the way from 2.446 to 2.451. Such is life.
The Dodgers move on to Washington DC to face the Nationals for four games beginning on Labor Day. Hiroki Kuroda starts the opener for the Dodgers, facing John Lannan for Washington.
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