Kemp’s two-run shot in the 12th inning gave host Los Angeles a 5-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves yesterday afternoon.

Kemp hit a two-run homer Sunday against St. Louis after the Dodgers entered the ninth trailing, 1-0.

“Matty’s awesome,’’ Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw said. “I told him what an incredible job he did and thanks for picking me up. In that situation, where both bullpens are getting eaten up, for Matty to pull it out like that with an 0-2 count, it was an awesome at-bat.’’

Both teams were down to their final strike much earlier.

David Ross hit a two-out, two-run single off Kershaw in the ninth to put the Braves ahead, 3-2. Casey Blake, who had homered earlier, hit an RBI single with two outs in the bottom half to make it 3-3.

Andre Ethier, who extended his career-best hitting streak to 18 games with an infield single in the third, doubled with one out in the Dodgers’ 12th against Cristhian Martinez. Kemp drove an 0-and-2 pitch over the fence in left-center for his fourth homer of the season.

Mets 9, Astros 1 — David Wright ended his career-worst hitless drought with a homer and a two-run double and Chris Capuano pitched seven sharp innings to help New York rout Houston to end a seven-game home skid.

Mike Nickeas connected for his first major league home run and Ike Davis hit a monster shot over the apple in center field.

Reds 7, Diamondbacks 4 — Mike Leake saw a few caustic signs during his first appearance since his shoplifting arrest Monday, but ignored them and gave host Cincinnati just its second win in eight games, allowing three runs and fanning six in seven innings against Arizona.

Cardinals 5, Nationals 0 — Kyle Lohse threw a career-best two-hitter and Matt Holliday kept his average near .500 with a two-run homer and single as St. Louis shut out visiting Washington.

White Sox 9, Rays 2 — Omar Vizquel, A.J. Pierzynski, Carlos Quentin, and Paul Konerko each drove in two runs and Chicago stopped a seven-game losing streak by blowing away Tampa Bay in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Twins 3, Orioles 1 — Jim Thome hit his 591st career home run and had two RBIs and starter Scott Baker held host Baltimore scoreless over seven innings as Minnesota salvaged a split of the four-game series.

Marlins 9, Pirates 5 — Scott Cousins hit a grand slam, Brett Hayes added a three-run homer, and Florida finished a three-game sweep of Pittsburgh in Miami.

Royals 3, Indians 2 — Melky Cabrera rifled a bases-loaded, two-run single into left field off Cleveland closer Chris Perez with one out in the ninth inning to lift host Kansas City to victory.

Mariners 1, Athletics 0 — Felix Hernandez took a shutout into the eighth inning and Adam Kennedy’s home run was all host Seattle needed to defeat Oakland.

Phillies 3, Padres 0 — Roy Oswalt and three relievers pitched a combined four-hitter and visiting Philadelphia shut out San Diego.