ATLANTA _ The Braves opposed Clayton Kershaw on Friday, aware his days as superman might be dwindling.
But he served a reminder why he's one of the generation's best talents, using his arm and bat, in guiding his Dodgers to a 4-1 win over the Braves. They've dropped the first two of a seven-game homestand leading into the trade deadline.
Cries for external reinforcements will continue, but if the team's struggles persist, perhaps the need to cash in prospects for immediate help lessens, with the looming reality that they may not be ready for primetime.
Two games in, the Braves have been outclassed by one of the top contenders in the National League. The Dodgers have outscored them 12-3 in the first half of a four-game series.
Mike Foltynewicz retired six of the first seven, just allowing a hit to Manny Machado. He ran into trouble in the third when Alex Verdugo blasted a homer that tied the game at 1.
Foltynewicz then walked Kershaw, and an incoming struggle felt apparent. But he struck out Joc Pederson and Machado, then induced a grounder from Max Muncy to escape.
Yasmani Grandal launched a 415-foot first-pitch homer to open the fourth. Foltynewicz walked Matt Kemp and gave up a one-out double to Chris Taylor.
Then came the wrecking ball: Kershaw, a career .157 hitter, fired a shot down the third-base line that plated two runs and put Los Angeles up 4-1. He reached base four times on the night, walked by three different Braves pitchers.
It was Kershaw's fifth two-RBI game. He last accomplished the feat in 2013, when he did so three times.
Foltynewicz, a first-time All-Star and arguably the Braves' best pitcher, couldn't find consistent command. He threw 101 pitches in five innings, striking out eight and walking three. Foltynewicz had cut down on the messier outings, but this one was a struggle.
It was the third July start in which he surrendered two homers. He did so only once prior (March 30 against Philadelphia).
The Braves offense didn't do much outside the second inning. Nick Markakis led off the frame with a ground-rule double and Kurt Suzuki singled. Markakis got caught in a rundown between third and home, but Suzuki scored on Ender Inciarte's groundout.
That was their best chance against Kershaw. The lefty pitched 72/3 innings, striking out seven with no walks. It was just his third start in Atlanta. He left with two runners on and two outs, and Kenley Jansen got Freddie Freeman to fly out to center on the first pitch.
Jonny Venters made his emotional return to the mound in the fifth inning, less than 24 hours after the Braves acquired him from the Rays. He pitched a scoreless inning, surviving his own walk to Kershaw.
Some silver lining: The bullpen allowed just one hit and no runs in four innings. Venters, Shane Carle, Jesse Biddle and A.J. Minter were responsible for the effort.
Since moving to a season-high 15 games over .500 on July 2, the Braves are 5-12. They sit 2.5 games behind the Phillies in the NL East.
