Kershaw handles Braves on mound, at plate

          Clayton Kershaw kept the Braves in check, and then frustrated them further with a hit, two RBI, and reaching base three times on walks.

          That’s a more efficient offensive night than nearly all the Braves, and the result was  4-1 win for the Dodgers.

          Kershaw went 7.2 innings, gave up six hits and no walks, striking out eight, to improve to 4-5. Kenley Jansen got his 30th save.

          Mike Foltynewicz had a decent night, other than giving up four runs in five innings on six hits. He had eight strikeouts and three walks.

          The Braves had one extra-base hit to three for the Dodgers, who had two homers. Nick Markakis had two of Atlanta’s three hits.

Snitker not all that worried about the slump

Venters thrilled as comeback comes full circle

Snitker’s plans for Freeman are …

Braves should hold on to top prospects

Chipper Jones goes into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, the ceremony for him and Vlad Guerrero, Jim Thome, Trevor Hoffman, Jack Morris and Alan Trammel starting at 1:30 p.m., on the MLB Network.

Coming Saturday in The Latest Coverage, a comprehensive collection of coverage on the career and induction of Jones to the Baseball Hall of Fame. 

Next 5

Saturday, 7:10 p.m., vs. L. A. Dodgers, FSS

Sunday, 1:35 p.m., vs. L. A. Dodgers, FSS

Monday, 7:35 p.m., vs. Miami, FSSE

Tuesday, 7:35 p.m., vs. Miami, FSSE

Wednesday, 7:35 p.m., vs. Miami, FSSE

From beat writers Gabe Burns/Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Mark Bowman/MLB.com on Twitter (and others when notable)

Braves are optioning RHP Evan Phillips to Triple-A Gwinnett to make room for Jonny Venters./GB

Sam Freeman is out of options. The team elected to continue its patience with him. Gives Braves four lefties in 'pen right now (Freeman, Minter, Biddle, Venters)./GB

Clayton Kershaw in nine starts vs. Braves: 1.47 ERA, 0.96 WHIP with .210 average against. He's struck out 70 and walked 13 (61.1 IP). Tonight will be his third start in Atlanta./GB

Rays manager Kevin Cash on Venters trade (via @TBTimes_Rays): "Yes, we are doing him a favor. ... There was a definite thought on (GM) Erik's mind, on (senior VP) Chaim's mind, if we find a landing spot, we want it to be a good one. I can't imagine there being a better one.’’/GB

Updated

Kurt Suzuki has been hit by 22 pitches in 510 plate appearances since joining the #Braves last season. In three seasons with the Twins (2014-2016), he was hit by a total of 21 pitches in 1355 plate appearances./Kevin McAlpin, MLB.com

Foltynewicz allowed two homers for the third time in July. He did so just once in the months prior (March 30)./GB

Clayton Kershaw just became the first Dodgers pitcher to walk three times in a game since Don Sutton (4/24/76) vs the Cubs./KM