San Francisco

Matt Kemp and Kiké Hernandez Homer Again as Dodgers Defeat Rival Giants

Matt Kemp and Enrique Hernandez homered for the second straight game and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the rival San Francisco Giants, 3-1, on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium.

Heroes get remembered, but legends never die.

Matt Kemp and Enrique Hernandez homered for the second straight game and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the rival San Francisco Giants, 3-1, on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. 

After holding on to defeat left-hander Derek Holland on Friday night, Kemp and Hernandez tagged another southpaw, this time in San Francisco ace, Madison Bumgarner.

Kemp kick started the party with a solo shot of Bumgarner in the bottom of the second inning.

"He actually pitched well," Kemp said of Bumgarner. " He made a couple mistakes and we capitalized off him, but that was a good pitcher we faced today and I'm glad we got the win."

San Francisco tied the game on a sacrifice fly by Alen Hanson in the top of the fifth.

Bumgarner must have been saying to himself, "You're killing me, Smalls," after Kiké Hernandez took him deep for the game-winning two-run homer in the bottom half of the inning.

"My first two at-bats I was a little bit too anxious,"  said Hernandez of facing Bumgarner. "That third at bat with Barnsey [Austin Barnes] at second was a pretty big at-bat in the game. He hung that one. It was one of the few mistakes he made. It took me three at-bats to adjust to him, but I'm glad I did."

Hernandez has historic success against the four-time All-Star and 2014 World Series MVP. The Puerto Rican right-hander is batting .455 with five doubles, four home runs and eight RBI against Bumgarner in his career.

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"I try not to think too much about it," said Hernandez of his success against Bumgarner in his career. "At the end of the day, the last two years, I haven't had the success I had the first year. I've gotten him, he's gotten me, I feel like it's pretty even."

Hernandez became the seventh consecutive No. 2 hitter in the Dodgers lineup to homer and eight of his ten homers on the season have come at home.

"Kemp hasn't stopped hitting all year, but I had a pretty brutal May and not the greatest of starts to June," said Hernandez. "Just to be able to contribute at the plate for my team is huge. We're playing really good baseball right now."

Hernandez's two-run blast was the Dodgers 34th home run in 13 games during the month of June, already more than any other month this season.

Overall, the Dodgers lead the National League with 90 total home runs this season.

Bumgarner (0-2), remains winless on the season as he allowed three runs on five hits with four walks and three strikeouts in a season-high six innings pitched.

Hernandez helped Alex Wood earn his second victory of the season as the lefty allowed one run on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 5 and 2/3 innings.

"It feels really good when you start executing and the shape of my breaking ball was the best it's been," said Wood of his start. "I felt really confident with everything tonight, but as the game went on I got a little fatigued."

Wood (2-5), improved to 3-3 with a 4.24 ERA with 45 strikeouts and 10 walks in 11 career games against the Giants.

Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth for his 17th save of the season.

The victory gives the Dodgers a season-high fifth consecutive win, as the team improved to 11-2 in the month of June, and drew level with San Francisco on the season with six wins apiece.

The win also guaranteed that the Dodgers would extend their series unbeaten streak to nine consecutive series.

After the game, the sellout crowd in attendance was treated to a screening of The Sandlot with the original cast on the field. 

Up Next:

The Dodgers will see the ball from a different angle on Father's Day as RHP Chris Stratton is set to straddle the mound against LHP Caleb Ferguson for the Dodgers. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10PM PST.

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