Kemp homers, Foltynewicz solid as Braves top Giants 3-1

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz gave up a homer to Brandon Crawford to lead off the second inning, then got three straight outs on 12 pitches.

The 24-year-old right-hander with electric stuff is growing up quickly, and it's already paying dividends for Atlanta.

Matt Kemp hit a three-run homer and Foltynewicz pitched 7 2/3 strong innings, leading the Braves over the San Francisco Giants 3-1 on Saturday night.

Foltynewicz (7-4) struck out six and allowed five hits and a walk for just his second quality start in eight games.

''Best one of the year I would think,'' said Braves interim manager Brian Snitker. ''I thought he kept everything together really well.''

His only mistake came when Crawford socked an 0-1 fastball for his 12th homer. Crawford also doubled.

''A couple of starts before that, I might have gotten a little upset after that, maybe the next guy would've been walked,'' Foltynewicz said. ''I just kept the same game plan and didn't shy away from anything.''

San Francisco fell to 13-26 since the All-Star break, the worst record in the majors over that stretch. The Giants were seeking their first three-game winning streak since winning four in a row just before the break.

The Giants fell two games behind the Dodgers for first in the NL West. Los Angeles beat the Chicago Cubs 3-2 earlier Saturday.

Kemp homered in the fourth to make it 3-1 against emergency starter Albert Suarez (3-2). Suarez was called up from Triple-A Sacramento to start in place of Jake Peavy, who went on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back strain.

''For the first three innings all his pitches were crisp and hitting their spots,'' Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of Suarez. ''The pitch he'd like back would the one to Kemp. It got away from him. That three-run homer was the difference in the game and our (bullpen) did a great job to hold them there.''

Kemp's homer helped settle the young Braves pitcher.

''It was hit well,'' Foltynewicz said. ''I think at that point when he hit that home run, that's all I needed.''

The last-place Braves had lost 12 of 16 going into Saturday.

The Giants were 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position.

Jim Johnson pitched a perfect ninth for his 13th save.

SCORELESS STREAK SNAPPED

Prior to Kemp's homer, the Giants had thrown 25 consecutive scoreless innings going back to the fifth inning of a 1-0 loss to the Dodgers on Wednesday.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Braves: RHP Chris Withrow, on the DL with right elbow inflammation, started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnet on Thursday and is on track to return the team by Sept. 1, interim manager Brian Snitker said.

Giants: 1B Brandon Belt was a late scratch with neck tightness. Belt struck out pinch-hitting in the eighth inning. INF Conor Gillaspie replaced Belt at first. ... Peavy's move to the DL is retroactive to Aug. 21. Peavy underwent an MRI on Saturday, the results of which weren't immediately known, manager Bruce Bochy said. ... OF Hunter Pence also underwent an MRI on Saturday for his strained right hamstring. Bochy said Pence is day to day and he expects Pence to return to the lineup on Tuesday in Arizona. ... RHP Matt Cain, who went on the DL on Aug. 18 with a lower back strain, was scheduled to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday. He's expected to slot into the fifth spot in the rotation the next time it comes up on Sept. 2.

UP NEXT

Braves: RHP Aaron Blair was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnet to pitch the series finale in San Francisco. Blair is 0-5 with a 7.99 ERA in 11 starts with the Braves.

Giants: Since the All-Star break, LHP Madison Bumgarner is 2-4 with a 3.71 ERA and four quality starts in eight outings. Bumgarner gave up a season-high five earned runs in five innings against the Dodgers last time out. He's 6-0 with a 1.75 ERA in his last seven starts against the Braves.