WASHINGTON — Matt Kemp homered and doubled in the same inning Sunday in his first two at-bats off the disabled list.
The Los Angeles Dodgers centre fielder led off the second with a solo shot, then doubled home Andre Ethier in a seven-run inning against Washington Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann.
Kemp, who had been hindered by inflammation in his left shoulder after off-season surgery, was activated from the 15-day DL before the game and batted sixth. He entered the game hitting .254 with four home runs in 61 games.
It was the first time that Kemp, Hanley Ramirez and Carl Crawford appeared together in the Dodgers starting lineup this season.
Manager Don Mattingly also gave rookie outfielder Yasiel Puig a day off to “catch his wind and clear his head a little bit.”
Puig was hitting .160 (4-for-25) in his last six games after batting .407 (55-for-135) in his first 34 games. He was 0 for 9 with five strikeouts in the first two games against the Nationals. Mattingly said he doesn’t believe an injury is affecting Puig.
“He seemed a little lost to me the last couple of days, just kind of confused at the plate,” Mattingly said. “A day to watch sometimes is good,” Mattingly said.
Los Angeles also optioned Scott Van Slyke.
