Kemp finished 3-for-3 with a walk

Matt Kemp launched his MLB-best eighth homer of the season, a two-run first-inning blast, as the Los Angeles Dodgers took down the Houston Astros, 3-1, in the opener of a three-game set.

Kemp finished 3-for-3 with a walk, Andre Ethier knocked in the other run and Ted Lilly (2-0) got the win by giving up one run on four hits and six walks in six innings.

"You'd rather not have to leave the bullpen with nine outs left to get. More times than not, though, with these guys, I feel like our pen is going to take care of it," Lilly said.

Javy Guerra notched his seventh save of the season with two strikeouts in a perfect ninth as the Dodgers moved to 11-3 on the season.

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The Celtics upped their lead in the Atlantic Division

The Celtics upped their lead in the Atlantic Division to three games over the Sixers, who fell to eighth in the Eastern Conference. Though they have the same 29-27 record as New York, the Knicks hold the tiebreaker as they've beaten the Sixers in two of three games this season.

After Saturday's loss to the Orlando Magic, coach Doug Collins said slow start in the first and third quarters was going to make him take a look at who is starting games and perhaps make some changes.

If only it was that easy. The Sixers lost their fourth consecutive game and have won just four of their last 14. The Atlantic Division title, which seemed such a viable possibility for much of the season, probably was thrown in the Boston Harbor after Sunday's loss.