MIAMI -- Matt Kemps September slugging wont get the Atlanta Braves into the postseason. Its a nice sign heading into 2017, though.Kemp hit two home runs to power the Braves to a 6-3 win over the Miami Marlins on Thursday night.Hes a really good player, Braves interim manager Brian Snitker said. Hes a big, strong man and when he swings that bat it goes.Kemp is hitting .400 (22 of 55) in his last 14 games and has 33 home runs and 104 RBI on the season, his highest totals since the 2011 season when he was NL MVP runner-up with 39 homers and 126 RBI.Its been good, Kemp said. Honestly I wish we could be in the playoffs right now and in a playoff race. It would be way more fun doing those type of things and being in a race, but for us to finish strong and show everybody what the offense and what this team is capable of going into the final weeks of the season is very important for next year.Freddie Freeman singled in the third inning to extend his hitting streak to 26 games and drove in two runs for the Braves, who have won six straight for the third time this season.The whole roster is helping the pretty good week that weve had, Snitker said. Just playing with a lot of enthusiasm and energy. Were down to nine games left in the season and theyre getting after it. Theyre playing like were trying to grab a wild card.Atlantas Josh Collmenter (3-0) pitched seven innings and allowed two runs.Im not going to blow it by a lot of guys, Collmenter said. Im not going to strike them out. Its using my defense to my advantage and keep them off-balanced and uncomfortable in the batters box as much as I possibly can.Mauricio Cabrera pitched the ninth for his fifth save in six chances.Ender Inciarte, Wednesdays hero with the game-saving catch at the New York Mets, went 2 for 4 with a triple and scored twice.J.T. Realmuto homered for the Marlins, who cut the deficit to 6-3 on an RBI double by Martin Prado in the eighth. Justin Bour flew out with two on to end the threat.Kemps multihomer game was the 10th of his career and third this season.Kemps second homer was a solo shot to left field in the sixth. It was caught on a bounce by Miami Heat forward Justise Winslow , who also threw out the ceremonial first pitch.Who comes to his first baseball game in Miami and catches a baseball? Kemp said. Thats pretty cool.Freemans streak is the longest of his career and the longest active streak in the majors. It is the fifth-longest for the Braves since moving to Atlanta in 1966. Freeman has also reached base in 42 consecutive games.Freemans two-run triple and Kemps two-run homer broke the game open in the third, giving the Braves a 5-0 lead.You get down early its tough on your club, Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. To be down five after a couple innings puts you in a bind.Marlins starter Jose Urena (4-8) allowed five runs and four hits in three innings.Ive been leaving the ball a little high when Ive been down in the count, Urena said.INCIARTES CATCHInciartes impressive catch in Wednesdays 4-3 win at the New York Mets is the highlight of his potential Gold Glove-winning season.If that dont win him a Gold Glove, I dont know what will, Braves interim manager Brian Snitker said. Ive been saying it all along, hes unbelievable.In addition to his impressive defensive plays in center field, Inciarte is also one of the hottest hitters in baseball since the All-Star break with a major league-leading 94 hits.Hes kind of burst onto the scene here and everybody is aware of him now and rightfully so, Snitker said. Hes as good as it gets.NEXT UPBraves: RHP Matt Wisler (7-12, 4.93 ERA) will start Fridays game at Miami. Wisler has allowed two runs or fewer in three of his last four starts including an eight-inning, one-run performance at Arizona on Aug. 25.Marlins: RHP Andrew Cashner (5-11, 5.27) will be looking to toss at least six innings for just the second time in his last nine starts. Casey Cizikas Islanders Jersey . Shot outdoors against the stunning backdrop of Banff, Alta., the networks 30-minute original production airs tonight at 8pm et/5pm pt on TSN2. 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The Vikings announced Thursday that Priefer will be one of seven holdovers from the previous staff, along with offensive line coach Jeff Davidson, wide receivers coach George Stewart and others. Norv Turner will mark his 30th year of coaching in the NFL as the offensive co-ordinator, as widely reported for weeks, and George Edwards will be the defensive co-ordinator. QUEBEC CITY, Quebec -- Team Europe forward Marian Hossa left his teams first exhibition game of the World Cup of Hockey to go to a local hospital for X-rays on an undisclosed injury, according to a source.After the game, Team Europe coach Ralph Krueger said through a league spokesman that there was no immediate update on Hossas status.The veteran Chicago Blackhawks forward is the most prolific career goal scorrer on the Team Europe roster; Hossa started the exhibition game against Team North America on the second line.ddddddddddddHe played just 10:47 in the exhibition game, finishing with one shot on goal. The 37-year-old Slovakia native had 13 goals in 64 games last season for Chicago. ' ' '
