Matt Kemp's clutch HR powers Rockies past Dodgers again, 7-6

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Matt Kemp hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth inning against his former team, and the Colorado Rockies sent the Los Angeles Dodgers to their first series loss of the season with a 7-6 victory Sunday night.

Kemp connected off Caleb Ferguson (2-1) for the sixth homer in a back-and-forth game between the NL West rivals. The Rockies won the last two in the series to boost their playoff hopes while curbing their 4-24 skid against the powerhouse Dodgers, who lost back-to-back games for only the third time this season.

Josh Fuentes hit an early two-run homer and Garrett Hampson added an RBI double for the Rockies, who were winless in their past nine series against Los Angeles since 2018. Colorado also won two straight at Dodger Stadium after losing 17 of its previous 18 here.

Corey Seager hit two homers and Chris Taylor put the Dodgers ahead with a two-run shot in the sixth, but Los Angeles' unbeaten streak in 13 consecutive series to start the season was snapped one short of the franchise record for the divisional era.

Daniel Bard got Seager to ground out with two runners on to end it, earning the sixth save of his remarkable comeback season.

Will Smith hit his third homer in five games for the major league-leading Dodgers, who have still won 19 of 24. But seven LA pitchers had a collectively rough performance on another hot night in Chavez Ravine, yielding 12 hits.

Kevin Pillar singled leading off the eighth before Kemp connected for just his third homer in 148 career at-bats against the Dodgers, who employed him from 2006-14 and again in 2018. Ferguson gave up a homer in each of his three relief outings on Los Angeles' 4-2 homestand.

Yency Almonte (3-0) pitched the seventh. Bard had to battle, issuing a seven-pitch walk to Edwin Rios and a...

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