Kemp goes yard twice in 8-4 win over Braves

On a night Josh Beckett didn’t have it, going only four innings before the bullpen was summoned, Matt Kemp hit a pair of two-run dingers and the Dodgers pounded out 15 hits enroute to an 8-4 win over Atlanta in the series opener at Chavez Ravine last night.

Kemp, displeased about being moved out of center field with stints in both left and right, said recently he would be open to a trade. Games like last night, however, will keep him in Dodger blue.

Kemp wasn’t the only Dodger with a hot bat. Yasiel Puig, the new center fielder, went 4-for-5 and scored two runs, Adrian Gonzalez went 3-for-5 with two RBI doubles and Carl Crawford added two RBI in the Los Angeles hit parade.

Atlanta’s Aaron Harang gave up four runs through six innings and left with the score knotted at 4-4.

Anthony Varvaro, who surrendered Kemp’s second long ball, a shot to center, relieved Harang.

The Dodgers added an eighth run in the eighth inning when Dee Gordon singled, stole second and scored on a Gonzalez double.

The Dodgers racked up nine extra base hits with Juan Uribe and Gonzalez getting a pair of doubles, Scott Van Slyke adding a double and Puig adding a double and a triple.

Beckett went 4.1 innings before giving up the mound to Jamey Wright, Brandon League, J.P. Howell and Kenley Jansen. Jansen got four outs to get the save and League was credited with the win. The Dodgers’ pen pitched 4.2 innings of shutout ball.

With the win, Los Angeles increased its lead in the NL West to three games over the Giants, 3-1 losers against Pittsburgh.

The Dodgers send Zack Greinke (12-6, 2.74) to the hill tonight in the second game of a three-game set.