The Dodgers may have lost their final game of the month, but they had an April to remember, especially Matt Kemp.
Kemp homered Monday in Colorado for his 12th home run of the season, most in the major leagues and more than any other Dodger had ever hit in April, surpassing the 10 home runs hit by Gary Sheffield.
It took Kemp 23 games to hit those 12 home runs, making him the fastest Dodger to reach a dozen long balls. Hall of Famer Roy Campanella held the previous record by hitting 12 home runs in the first 25 games of his 1953 MVP campaign.
Kemp ended April atop the National League in all three triple crown categories, hitting .417 with 12 home runs and 25 RBI, the key cog in the 16-7 start by the Dodgers.
In the history of baseball, Kemp is one of four players to hit at least .400 with 10 home runs and 20 RBI in April, joining Barry Bonds (2004), Larry Walker (1997), and Tony Perez (1970).
"It's really a lot of fun to watch Matt and what he's doing," manager Don Mattingly said of Kemp. "We're seeing him grow up and get better and better and I'd hate to say he could be scary because he's pretty scary right now."
NOTES, QUOTES
Coffey comes off DL, pitches scoreless inning
--RHP Todd Coffey was activated from the disabled list before the Dodgers game Monday night with the Rockies at Coors Field. Coffey, who was placed on the DL on April 13 with right knee inflammation, pitched a scoreless eighth inning Monday night.
--CF Matt Kemp homered Monday in Colorado to set a new Dodgers franchise record with 12 home runs in April. Kemp needed just 23 games to hit his 12th home run, the fastest Dodger in history to do so, two games faster than Roy Campanella in 1953. Kemp, who hit .417 through Monday with 12 home runs and 25 RBI, is the fourth player in MLB history, per Stats LLC, to hit .400 with 10 home runs and 20 RBI in April, joining Barry Bonds (2004), Larry Walker (1997) and Tony Perez (1970).
--1B Juan Rivera pinch hit in the seventh inning Monday in Colorado, his second appearances in five games since straining his left hamstring on Tuesday against Atlanta. However, even though Rivera pinch-hit for 1B James Loney, Rivera didn't remain in the game at first base, as the team is not yet ready to have Rivera play the field.
--LHP Chris Capuano, who picked up his third win of the season on Sunday against Washington, has 25 strikeouts and a 1.80 ERA over his last 25 innings in his last four starts.
--SS Dee Gordon snapped a 0-for-14 slump with a seventh-inning single Monday night in Colorado.
BY THE NUMBERS: 12 -- Home runs by Matt Kemp, setting a new April record for the Dodgers.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's really a lot of fun to watch Matt and what he's doing. We're seeing him grow up and get better and better and I'd hate to say he could be scary because he's pretty scary right now." -- manager Don Mattingly, on the hot start by CF Matt Kemp
