Dodgers are served well by youth brigade

They’re charter members of the Dodgers’ growing group of 20-something players who keep producing excitement and memorable moments at Dodger Stadium.

While 24-year-old All-Star catcher Russell Martin delivered a career-high four hits on Monday night against the Atlanta Braves, it was 22-year-old outfielder Matt Kemp’s towering two-run home run in the sixth inning that ignited an 8-2 Dodgers victory.

Kemp’s home run landed in the glove of reliever Chin-hui Tsao, who was warming up in the Dodgers’ bullpen. It was estimated as a 436-foot blast and it broke a 1-1 tie. And it came against eight-time Braves All-Star pitcher John Smoltz, who had struck out James Loney moments earlier for seemingly the inning’s final out, but the ball rolled to the backstop, enabling Loney to reach first.

“He tried to challenge me, gave me a pretty good pitch to hit, I tried to take advantage,” Kemp said. “He throws hard enough to challenge you. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.”

Smoltz and the Dodgers’ two-time All-Star pitcher, Derek Lowe, engaged in their expected pitchers’ duel, but after Smoltz and Lowe left, the advantage went to the Dodgers’ bullpen.

The Dodgers scored five runs in the seventh against relievers Tyler Yates and Peter Moylan, including a double by Juan Pierre on a bunt pop, a run-scoring single by Martin, a run-scoring single by Jeff Kent and a bases-loaded walk to Kemp.

Perhaps the Dodgers’ youth movement is inspiring the veteran players, because it was a fielding gem by second baseman Jeff Kent in the sixth that set the stage for Kemp’s defining home run.

Lowe was removed after giving up consecutive singles to Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones to start the sixth inning.

Joe Beimel (2-1) replaced Lowe. After a sacrifice, then an intentional walk to Jeff Francoeur to load the bases, Beimel struck out Kelly Johnson and got pinch-hitter Jarrod Saltalamacchia to ground out to Kent, who made a diving stop going to his left and had just enough power on his throw to nip the player with the longest last name in major league history.

“In 15 years’ experience, you have a gut feeling,” Kent said. “He hit the ball and I go get it.”

Smoltz (9-5) twice refused to pitch around the Dodgers’ top young players and got burned. Martin’s two-out double in the fifth, his third consecutive hit against Smoltz, drove in Rafael Furcal to tie the score, 1-1. As hot as Martin has been with a 12-game hitting streak and two singles in his earlier at-bats against Smoltz, the Braves declined to walk him intentionally. Big mistake. Martin drove a 1-and-0 pitch that bounced off the left-field wall.

“We’re proud of the kid,” Manager Grady Little said of Martin. “He plays hard every single day.”

Then in the sixth, despite the pitcher’s spot on deck, Smoltz elected to pitch to Kemp, who hit a 3-and-1 inside fastball for his second home run in as many days.

The pitchers’ matchup brought together two unique individuals. Along with Dennis Eckersley, Lowe and Smoltz are the only pitchers in major league history to have put together seasons of 20 wins and 40 saves.

“They’re just great pitchers, period,” Braves Manager Bobby Cox said when asked what enabled Lowe and Smoltz to be successful closers and starting pitchers during their careers.

Lowe threw five-plus innings, walking none, striking out five and giving up eight hits and one run.

Smoltz threw six innings, walking one, striking out six and giving up seven hits and three runs.

Smoltz, 40, won the National League Cy Young Award in 1996 when he was 24-8 as a starter. Tommy John surgery in 2000 combined with a need for bullpen help led to Smoltz becoming a closer.

Lowe, 34, became a closer for the Boston Red Sox early in his career, recording 42 saves in 2000 and 24 in 2001. He switched to a starting role in 2002, going 21-8.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com