Kemp, Ethier get Dodgers off to powerful start

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Those still having trouble accepting Matt Kemp, budding superstar, are having a rough week. Almost as rough as the pitchers trying to get one past Kemp.

He was quickly at it again Friday night against the Giants, hitting the second pitch that right-hander Todd Wellemeyer offered him over the right-field wall to give the Dodgers an early lead.

That’s four home runs in as many games, and he becomes the first L.A. Dodger to homer in the first four home games of the season.

Kemp has five home runs on the season, tied with Albert Pujols for second in the National League behind Chase Utley‘s six.

(Note: Willie Crawford hit a home run in the first game at Dodger Stadium in 1972, sat out the second game, and then homered in the next three games.)

Not to be outdone, Andre Ethier followed Kemp’s blast in the first with his second home run of the season, giving the Dodgers their first consecutive home runs of the season.

And that was just his warm-up. In the second inning, he hit Wellemeyer’s first pitch for a grand slam. It was his first career grand slam.

-- Steve Dilbeck