Sep 22, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Matt Kemp (27) hits a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. The Atlanta Braves defeat the Miami Marlins 6-3. Photo Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
MIAMI — Matt Kemp slugged two home runs and had three RBIs as the Atlanta Braves won their sixth game in a row, defeating the Miami Marlins 6-3 on Thursday night at Marlins Park.
Kemp, acquired from the San Diego Padres on July 30, leads the Braves with 33 homers and 104 RBIs. He has 10 multi-homer games in his career, including three this season.
Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman, who drove in two runs, extended his hit streak to 26 games. It’s the longest active hit streak in the majors and the longest by a Braves player since Dan Uggla had a run of 33 in 2011.
The Braves (62-91) have the worst record in the National League but have been playing spoilers lately, sweeping three games at the New York Mets earlier this week and on Thursday knocking off the Marlins (76-77), who are barely alive in their pursuit of an NL wild-card playoff berth.
Josh Collmenter (3-0) earned the win for the Braves, who are 18-12 since Aug. 21. Collmenter allowed five hits, two walks and two runs in seven solid innings.
Jose Urena (4-8) took the loss, allowing five runs in three innings. In his past two starts, Urena has given up 12 runs in five innings.
Royals starter Jason Vargas, making his second start since returning from Tommy John surgery, gave up a one-out solo homer to Jason Kipnis in the first inning. Kipnis hit an 0-2 pitch into the seats in right field for his 23rd home run.
Francisco Lindor then drew a walk, and after Mike Napoli struck out, Carlos Santana clubbed a double to center field, scoring Lindor to make it 2-0.
With two outs in the second inning, Alex Gordon singled and rode home on Alcides Escobar’s seventh home run, over the center field fence, tying the game at 2.
Vargas, who was on a pitch limit, retired the last 10 men he faced before being removed after 70 pitches and four innings. He gave up two runs on two hits, with four strikeouts and one walk.
Miami’s J.T. Realmuto hit a solo homer in the seventh to cut Atlanta’s lead to 6-2. It was Realmuto’s 11th homer of the season, one more than he had as a rookie last year.
The Marlins made it 6-3 in the eighth on an RBI double by Martin Prado, who drove a two-out shot over Inciarte’s head. But that was as close at Miami got to the Braves.
NOTES: Indians RHP Bryan Shaw gets overshadowed in Cleveland’s bullpen because he usually pitches after LHP Andrew Miller and before RHP Cody Allen, the closer. However, in his past 42 appearances before Thursday, Shaw had a 1.40 ERA and held opposing hitters to a .182 batting average. … Indians OF Rajai Davis, 35, led the AL with 40 stolen bases heading into Thursday’s action. He could become the oldest player to lead either league in steals since Rickey Henderson, at age 39, led the AL with 66 steals in 1998. … Royals C Salvador Perez threw out Davis in the sixth inning Wednesday. It was the 30th attempted base-stealer Perez caught this year. The Kansas City record of 32 was set by Jason Kendall in 2010. … LHP Danny Duffy will start for the Royals on Friday in Detroit against Tigers RHP Michael Fulmer. Indians RHP Trevor Bauer will face Chicago White Sox RHP Miguel Gonzalez on Friday in Cleveland.
