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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Ashland tests synthetic grass to save water ... From walking sticks to shovels ... U.S. Government wants to garnish wages of former Portland eco-saboteur ... Ashland tests synthetic grass to save water ... From walking sticks to shovels ... U.S. Government wants to garnish wages of former Portland eco-saboteur ... MAJOR LEAGUES Kemp, Turner power Dodgers past Giants, 4-2 Comment By Los Angeles Times MailTribune.com By Los Angeles Times Posted Sep. 24, 2014 at 12:01 AM By Los Angeles Times Posted Sep. 24, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Social News LOS ANGELES — Matt Kemp has been where Yasiel Puig was Tuesday night, screaming at opponents and forcing teammates to restrain him as benches cleared. Kemp knows better now. So, here he was, on his 30th birthday, standing between Puig and Madison Bumgarner, who struck Puig on the left ankle with slider in the first inning. And here he was, exacting revenge not with punches or curse words, but with a thunderous two-run home run later in the inning that vaulted the Dodgers to a 4-2 victory over the second-place San Francisco Giants. “Nothing bad happened,” Kemp said. “We got the ‘W.’” The magic number for the Dodgers to win the National League West was reduced to one, meaning they can secure the division title with a win tonight in their series finale at Dodger Stadium. Clayton Kershaw, who is 20-3 with a 1.80 ERA, will start the game for the Dodgers. “We have the best pitcher in the world going on the mound,” Kemp said. Kemp was only 25 the when he last played in a postseason game. The Dodgers were there last season, but Kemp wasn’t. Sidelined with a fractured ankle, he was subjected to watching games on crutches. “Last year was bittersweet,” Kemp said. “The team did a really good job without me.” The Dodgers reached the NL Championship Series, where they were eliminated by the St. Louis Cardinals. Hanley Ramirez was injured in the opening game of the series, when a fastball fractured his ribs. “A lot of guys weren’t healthy,” Kemp said. “Hanley wasn’t healthy in the second round. I just feel like if we had been a healthier team, we would have went a lot deeper into the playoffs. Hopefully, everybody is healthy as they can be this year and, hopefully, we’ll get that chance to make it all the way.” Their latest victory inched them closer. Justin Turner moved the Dodgers in front, 1-0, with a leadoff home run in the first inning. With the Giants starting a left-hander in Bumgarner, Turner started at second base in place of the left-handed-hitting Dee Gordon. The next batter, Puig, was hit on the ankle. Puig was also struck by a pitch the previous night. Soon, Puig and Bumgarner were barking at each other. Puig was initially restrained by home plate umpire Adrian Johnson as Giants catcher Buster Posey stood nearby. “It’s a rivalry, you know,” Kemp said. “High emotions. We both want to win badly.” Kemp was the first Dodgers player on the scene. He placed a hand on Puig’s chest, ensuring the center fielder wouldn’t attack Bumgarner. “We wanted him in the game,” Kemp said. “You don’t want him to do something stupid.” Two batters later, Kemp launched a 2-0 fastball over the center-field wall. The two-run home run increased the Dodgers’ lead to 3-0. “It just shows Matt’s maturity there,” manager Don Mattingly said. “He’s been one of the emotional leaders in our clubhouse.” For Kemp, the home run was his 24th of the season and 16th since the All-Star break. “I knew it was in there, it just takes time,” Kemp said. With Zack Greinke pitching eight innings, the Dodgers were ahead, 3-2, until the bottom of the eighth inning. That was when Turner belted his second home run to give the Dodgers a two-run cushion. Kenley Jansen pitched a scoreless ninth inning to save the game. Kemp recorded the final out, catching a fly ball from Hunter Pence in right field. The Dodgers didn’t present Kemp with a cake. Instead, backup catcher Drew Butera later emptied a tub of water on his back. “Time goes by fast,” Kemp said. “It’s why you can’t really take anything for granted. I’ve enjoyed my first nine years of my major league career in L.A., and I’ve grown in a lot of ways. I did get to L.A. at a young age, at 21, and now I’m 30, and it’s just weird to be saying that I am 30. It just sounds old.” By Los Angeles Times MailTribune.com By Los Angeles Times Posted Sep. 24, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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