Dodgers-Braves: LA Wastes Kershaw Gem, Late Rally Falls Short in 10 Innings

Clayton Kershaw and Kenshin Kawakami locked up in a dandy of a pitching duel on Saturday night under the bright lights of Chavez Ravine, but Kelly Johnson stole the headlines with a game-winning home run in the top of the 10th inning the lift the Atlanta Braves to a 2-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Neither pitcher factored in the decision as both kept the opposing squad off the board and each team’s bullpen held tight to send the game into extra innings in a scoreless tie. Guillermo Mota came on to start the inning and walked Adam LaRoche with one out. LaRoche worked a brilliant at-bat, falling behind 0-2 but battling for 10 pitches before the walk. Two batters later, Johnson lifted a two-run home run just over the wall in right field to break the tie and give the Braves a 2-0 lead and eventual win. It was the first Braves hit since the fourth inning, a span that saw the visitors from Atlanta go 0-for-18 before the home run. The Dodgers responded in the 10th with a run of...