Braves lose to Dodgers 3-2 in 10 innings

BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Alex Wood gave up just one run, Justin Upton tied the game in the ninth inning, and the Atlanta Braves still lost their second straight.

Matt Kemp singled in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th, giving the Los Angeles Dodgers a 3-2 victory on Wednesday night. The Braves fell to 6-6 in extra-inning games.

Wood scattered six hits over seven innings, struck out eight and walked two while not factoring in the decision. He kept his team in the game against Zack Greinke, who struck out a season-high 13 Braves.

“I wanted to come in and re-establish myself and put up some zeros,” Wood said. “I always enjoy pitching like this against guys like Greinke because it shows me that I can go toe-to-toe with a guy like that. I watched him in between innings, and I think there were just three mistakes that he made the whole game.”

The Braves tied the game 2-2 on Justin Upton’s homer off closer Kenley Jansen leading off the ninth. Upton’s three hits tied his season high.

“I got a few pitches I could handle and I was able to square them up,” Upton said. “He (Greinke) was tough on us and we couldn’t push any runs across, but he’s done that all year. Woody really stepped up for us and he matched Greinke pitch-for-pitch.”

Upton’s brother, B.J., struck out in four at-bats.

Andrelton Simmons had an RBI single that gave Atlanta a 1-0 lead in the second.

In the 10th, Dodgers pinch-hitter Justin Turner singled to open the inning and took second on a wild pitch by David Hale (3-3). Kemp followed with the winning single to left.

Hale gave up three hits in one-plus innings.

Kemp scored the Dodgers’ first two runs of the game, including his 11th homer leading off the second.

J.P. Howell (3-3) got the win in relief, walking two and striking out one in one inning.

Juan Uribe gave the Dodgers a 2-1 lead in the eighth on a hard-hit single with two outs to shortstop Simmons, whose throw home sailed wide as Kemp crossed the plate.

Greinke allowed one run and five hits in eight innings while walking one.

Kemp, who homered twice on Tuesday night, tied the game 1-1 on his 11th homer of the season.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Braves: Outfielder Jason Heyward was out of the lineup for the second straight day with a sore back he strained last week chasing a foul ball. Jordan Schafer started in right field for the first time this season. Manager Fredi Gonzalez said it’s likely he’ll give Heyward an extra day off once he says he’s ready to go again.

Dodgers: Hyun-Jin Ryu will get an extra day of rest before he starts on Saturday. Dan Haren, who has lost all four of his starts this month, will take the mound for Friday’s series opener against the Cubs.

ON DECK:

Braves: Julio Teheran (10-6, 2.71 ERA) takes the mound for the series finale on Thursday. The only time the right-hander has faced the Dodgers was in last year’s NL division series, when he tossed 2 2/3 innings in a loss.

Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw (12-2, 1.76 ERA) is coming off a three-hit shutout victory over the Giants in his last start. The left-hander leads the NL with 11.30 strikeouts per nine innings as a starter. He has 140 strikeouts and 15 walks in 112 1-3 inning.

MIXED BAG

Gonzalez was 1-1 on challenges. He lost on a pickoff play with the go-ahead run on base in the 10th. Schafer walked and was sacrificed to second by Ramiro Pena. Howell turned and fired, with Dee Gordon completing the pickoff to empty the bases. Gordon was involved in the Braves’ first challenge in the third. He attempted to steal second and was called safe, but was ruled out when the call was overturned.

BLOWN SAVE

Jansen allowed his first run since June 21, snapping his scoreless streak of 13 1-3 innings over 13 appearances. It was his fourth blown save in 35 chances.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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