Deja Blue: Dodgers take first place in NL West thanks to Matt Kemp's second straight game-winner
For the second time in less than 24 hours, the Los Angeles Dodgers won 3-2 over the Arizona Diamondbacks thanks to Matt Kemp’s clutch hit against reliever Archie Bradley.
That incredibly specific game finish first occurred Saturday night, when Kemp knocked a 3-run homer off Bradley to give the Dodgers a shocking 3-2 lead in the eighth inning, then he did it again Sunday afternoon with a walk-off double that was only a few feet from a homer.
Funnily enough, the Dodgers also beat the D-backs 3-2 on Friday to give them a three-game streak of the same result, score and opponent, but Kemp didn’t make an appearance in that game.
BRING IT ON. @TheRealMattKemp IS READY. pic.twitter.com/e7osQ7w4UU
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 2, 2018
How Matt Kemp has haunted Archie Bradley
Despite the very similar circumstances surrounding Kemp’s two fateful at-bats against Bradley, Kemp’s hits both came about in very different ways. On Saturday, Kemp played the part of a patient veteran, taking three pitches and running up a 1-2 count while waiting for something to hit. That would come in the form of an 82-mph knuckle curve that Bradley left up in the zone. A few seconds later, the ball was in the center field stands.
Not in @TheRealMattKemp's house. pic.twitter.com/AGwTi16FMN
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 2, 2018
Kemp was a whole lot less patient on Sunday, ambushing a first-pitch fastball from Bradley and nearly taking the reliever deep yet again. Kemp is now 8-for-16 with five extra-base hits against Bradley, who holds a 3.57 ERA for the season.
Kemp’s hits were welcome given that the outfielder has been mired in a slump for a solid month. Opening the season as an All-Star and dark horse MVP candidate, Kemp hit just .214/.291/.286 over 79 plate appearances during August.
Dodgers grab sole possession of 1st place in NL West
Sunday’s win was the Dodgers’ eight in their last nine games, a span of time in which the Dodgers went from 4.5 games behind the D-backs to the lone team atop the National League West standings.
The Dodgers now site a half-game ahead of the Rockies, who won 7-3 over the Padres on Sunday, and a full game ahead of the D-backs with 25 games left to play. Thanks to a +98 run differential compared to the Rockies, the now-third-place D-backs are still probably the Dodgers’ biggest threat in the NL West, but for now, they’ll be trying to get out of Chavez Ravine as quickly as possible.
Said Bradley: “We’re going back home, don’t panic, we’re going to be fine. We’ve got to wash our hands, shower up and get the hell out of L.A.”
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