Field Level Media
Jul 27, 2018
Los Angeles left-hander Clayton Kershaw gave up one run over a season-high 7 2/3 innings and drove in a pair of runs to help the Dodgers beat the host Atlanta Braves 4-1 on Friday at SunTrust Park.
Kershaw (4-5) gave up six hits, struck out eight without a walk and improved to 4-0 in 10 career starts against the Braves. It was his first career start at SunTrust Park.
Kershaw drove in two runs in the fourth inning to complete a three-run rally, sending home Matt Kemp and Chris Taylor with a two-out single to left. Kershaw also walked three times, making him the first pitcher with three walks and a single since Whitey Ford in 1959 and the first Dodger pitcher with three walks since Don Sutton in 1976.
Kenley Jansen pitched the final 1 1/3 innings, struck out two and earned his National League-leading 30th save. It was the seventh time this season he has worked more than one inning.
The win was the second straight for the Dodgers. Atlanta has lost three in a row and is 2-4 since the All-Star break.
The Dodgers continued to bomb away, getting solo home runs from Alex Verdugo (his first) in the third inning and Yasmani Grandal (his 17th) in the fourth.
Los Angeles has 142 homers, including a major-league-leading 101 solo shots.
Mike Foltynewicz (7-7) surrendered both home runs and gave up four runs in five innings. The right-hander gave up six hits and three walks, but struck out eight. His ERA rose to 3.04.
The Braves scored their only run in the second inning on Ender Inciarte's infield grounder.
Atlanta threatened with two on and two out in the eighth inning, but Jansen came in and retired Freddie Freeman on a long fly to center to end the threat.
Veteran left-hander Jonny Venters, acquired by Atlanta on Thursday from Tampa Bay for international slot money, pitched a scoreless inning of relief on Friday in his return debut. The Braves drafted Venters in the 30th round in 2003, and he reached the major leagues with Atlanta in 2010. He was released in November 2014 after requiring a third Tommy John surgery.
--Field Level Media