Los Angeles, CA – Chipper Jones hit the go-ahead single in the ninth inning as Atlanta rallied for a 4-2 win over Los Angeles in the finale of a three-game set.
Dan Uggla had two hits, two RBI and a run scored while Freddie Freeman added two hits and two runs scored for the Braves, who won the last two games of the set after dropping the opener on Monday that snapped a five-game winning streak.
Brandon Beachy went 6 1/3 innings and gave up just two runs on seven hits with a walk and six strikeouts. Jonny Venters (2-0) got the win for striking out the side in the eighth.
Matt Kemp continued his torrid pace with his 10th home run and 23rd RBI of the season, both of which lead the majors. Dee Gordon drove in the other run for the Dodgers, who have dropped three of four.
Ted Lilly had a strong start, but did not factor in the decision despite giving up just one run on three hits over seven innings. Javy Guerra (1-3) was tagged with the loss.
Martin Prado lined out to start the ninth against Guerra, but Freeman reached base with a single. Brian McCann then lined a shot back to the mound that grazed off Guerra's glove and face and everyone was safe.
"He seems all right and they're doing a concussion test right now," said Dodgers manager Don Mattingly. "I'm worried about his health first and foremost."
Guerra was unhurt by the play and after a couple of warmup tosses the game continued. Uggla punched a single to center to tie the game and Jones followed with a base hit for the lead. Jason Heyward then singled in another run. Josh Lindblom took the mound and hit Tyler Pastornicky with a pitch before getting Juan Francisco to ground into a double play.
Craig Kimbrel worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his seventh save of the year.
"What a game that was," said McCann. "Our bullpen was fantastic again tonight and we can't say enough good things about them. We got some big at-bats in the ninth inning and it was enough for tonight."
The game remained scoreless until the fourth when Uggla singled home Freeman, who had hit a one-out double two batters prior.
Gordon scored Tony Gwynn with a groundout in the fifth and Kemp led off the sixth with a shot over the wall in left-center.
Game Notes
Kemp tied the Dodgers mark for most home runs in April set by Gary Sheffield in 2000...Los Angeles batted 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base...Los Angeles visits Washington for three games starting on Friday...Atlanta, which went 5-2 on its road trip, returns home to face the Pirates for three games starting on Friday.
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