Kemp's bases-loaded double lifts Braves past D-backs


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PHOENIX (AP) — Matt Kemp has had some big hits in his many trips to Chase Field in his many seasons in the NL West. He had another one Tuesday night.

Kemp's two-out, bases loaded double in the eighth inning erased a one-run Arizona lead and the Atlanta Braves beat the Diamondbacks 7-4 in the second game of a matchup of teams with the two worst records in the National League.

"It's a nice field, a nice backdrop," he said. "You see the ball well. I've played here a lot so I've got some experience here."

Kemp earned two RBIs with the hit and a third run scored when right fielder Mitch Haniger bobbled the ball.

"Those are situations you want to be in," said Kemp, who also had a sacrifice fly.

He said he's enjoying himself since he was acquired by Atlanta from San Diego on July 30, despite the Braves' record.

"The guys here are good. They treat me well," he said. "We're having as much fun as we can in the situation that we're in."

Kemp's three RBIs gave him 83 for the season.

"He's been there, done that," Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. "You know, he's an RBI guy."

Adonis Garcia had three hits, including a double, and scored twice for the Braves, who have won two of three after losing seven straight. Dansby Swanson, the former No. 1 draft pick by Arizona now with the Braves, singled twice and earned his first major league RBI with a sacrifice fly in the ninth.

Jose Ramirez (2-0) allowed a hit and hit a batter but struck out the side in the seventh to get the victory. Jake Barrett (1-2) took the loss.

"I just feel it was the one pitch that hurt me and that was to Kemp," he said. "I tried to throw inside and missed away."

Jim Johnson pitched a scoreless ninth for his 11th save.

Jake Lamb doubled in two runs and Yasmany Tomas singled in two in Arizona's four-run third inning. Lamb also doubled in the eighth, breaking out of a 2-for-47 slump. Tomas left the game in the eighth with mid-back stiffness.

Atlanta starter Rob Whalen held Arizona hitless through 2 2/3 innings but never made it out of the third.

With two outs, he walked three batters, the last two on full counts, to load the bases for Tomas. After the two-run single, Whalen hit Welington Castillo to load them again and bring up Lamb, who laced a two-run ground-rule double into the Braves bullpen down the right field line and Arizona led 4-2.

That was it for Whalen in his fifth major league start.

The Braves, who scored five in the first inning in Monday night's 9-8 loss, scored two in the first Tuesday, and Arizona starter Archie Bradley was fortunate it wasn't more.

Nick Markakis singled in one run and Tyler Flowers doubled in another. Jace Peterson walked to load the bases but Swanson struck out looking to end the threat.

Garcia doubled to start the fourth, took third on a groundout and scored on Kemp's fly out to center to slice the Diamondbacks' lead to 4-3.

The Braves loaded the bases with one out in the third but failed to score. In all, Atlanta stranded eight runners in the first three innings.

Freddie Freeman of the Braves went 0 for 3 to snap an 11-game hitting streak.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Diamondbacks: Manager Chip Hale said OF A.J. Pollock (wrist surgery) will be activated on Friday and will immediately be in the lineup.

UP NEXT:

Braves: RHP Julio Tehran (2-3, 4.89) gets the start in the third game of the four-game series. Tehran was the last Braves starter to go more than six innings — on July 17.

Diamondbacks: RHP Zack Greinke (11-4, 4.21) makes his first home start since June 28. He allowed two runs in seven innings in his last start, at San Diego, but got no decision.

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