Dodgers 2 - 3 Braves
Final
  for this game

Kimbrel escapes jam as Braves nip Dodgers

Aug 14, 2014 - 3:59 AM Atlanta, GA (SportsNetwork.com) - Andrelton Simmons returned from a week long absence and drove in two runs and Craig Kimbrel survived a bases-loaded jam in the ninth as the Atlanta Braves downed the Los Angeles Dodgers, 3-2, in the third installment of a four-game series at Turner Field.

The Dodgers loaded the bases in their final at-bat before Kimbrel induced a tailor-made double-play ball off the bat of Matt Kemp to escape with a win.

"(Kimbrel) doesn't get rattled," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said of his closer. "Maybe that's maturity being in those situations."

Ervin Santana (12-6) and Hyun-Jin Ryu both came in unbeaten over their previous five starts, and only Santana's streak remained after limiting the Dodgers to two runs on eight hits over six innings.

"We ran into a great starting pitcher," Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis said.

Justin Upton knocked in the eventual winning run for the Braves, who had dropped 11 of 13 coming into Wednesday's contest.

Ryu (13-6) surrendered three runs on six hits before leaving with a right gluteus muscle strain with two outs in the sixth inning.

Carl Crawford went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI for the Dodgers, who had won three in a row and were looking for their sixth straight win over the Braves.

Kemp and Crawford both continued their recent success in getting the Dodgers on the board in the second inning. Kemp extended his hitting streak to nine games with a leadoff double, and Crawford, who has 10 hits in his last four games, singled up the middle to bring him in.

Crawford later scored on Miguel Rojas' base hit, but the Dodgers left runners on the corners and only recorded one more hit with a runner in scoring position the rest of the way.

Evan Gattis doubled, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a Simmons groundout in the second frame, and Simmons, who missed six games with an ankle injury, singled in Upton with two outs in the fourth to pull the Braves even.

Atlanta went ahead in its next turn as Jason Heyward singled with one away, moved to second when Ryu grazed Freddie Freeman's jersey with a high fastball and scored on Upton's base hit to right.

Game Notes

Kimbrel came away with his 35th save ... Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig walked and struck out four times ... Ryu fell to 9-3 on the road ... Santana is 7-1 in his last eight decisions.






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