:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/31243569/483143943.0.jpg)
LOS ANGELES -- Matt Kemp consummated his return with a pair of home runs, and Hanley Ramirez did the same, leading the Dodgers to a 6-2 win over the Giants to salvage the final game of a three-game weekend series at Dodger Stadium.
In addition to the atmosphere provided by the sellout crowd, and the drastic increase in energy with former Entertainment Tonight host Mary Hart as the guest public address announcer - especially when compared to the dry, deadpan Jason Bateman in the role on Saturday - Kemp electrified the fans with a home run to the pavilions in left center field in the second inning.
The blast gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead and was his first home run at Dodger Stadium since Sept. 30, 2012.
In the fifth inning with Adrian Gonzalez on second base, Kemp hit another home run, this time to right center field. It was his first multi-homer game since Sept. 29, 2012, and the sixth multi-homer game of his career. It prompted this mid-game tweet:
Mary Hart may be the guest PA announcer at Dodger Stadium, but Matt Kemp is the entertainment tonight
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) April 7, 2014
In between Kemp's home runs, Ramirez hit a ball that traveled over the Dodgers bullpen in left but was measured at just 422 feet. That was the first home run of the year for Ramirez, who also doubled.
Ramirez also homered to center field in the eighth inning against David Huff, giving the Dodgers two players with two home runs in the same game for the first time since Andre Ethier and Manny Ramirez turned the trick on April 18, 2009 against the Rockies.
Giants starter Matt Cain didn't allow a single all night, but did allow three home runs and three doubles in his six innings. He is just the third pitcher since 1914 to allow six extra-base hits and no singles to the Dodgers, and the first since Gerry Staley of the Reds in the first game of a doubleheader in Brooklyn on July 17, 1955 (which, as pointed out by @mayhem716, was the opening day for Disneyland).
That was more than enough support for Zack Greinke, who didn't allow a run until the sixth inning, when the Giants banged two solo home runs. Greinke struck out eight and walked none for his second win of the season.
Notes
- Five of those strikeouts for Greinke were looking, tying his career high set previously on Sept. 17, 2009 at Detroit and July 16, 2011 vs. Colorado.
- Chris Withrow struck out all three batters he faced in the seventh inning, on 10 pitches. In five innings this season, Withrow has allowed one hit, one walk and no runs, with eight strikeouts. Those two runners to reach base were his first two batters faced, and Withrow has since retired 14 straight.
- The 16 strikeouts by Dodgers pitchers on Sunday set a new season high for the team.
Sunday particulars
Home runs: Matt Kemp 2 (2), Hanley Ramirez 2 (2); Brandon Belt (4), Hunter Pence (1)
WP - Zack Greinke (2-0): 6 IP, 6 hits, 2 hits, 8 strikeouts
LP - Matt Cain (0-1): 6 IP, 6 hits, 5 runs, 3 strikeouts