By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–The Giants’ opportunity to post a three-game win streak for the first time in six weeks disappeared Saturday night in one swing of the bat.

Matt Kemp, the former Dodger and still a nemesis of the Giants, delivered a three-run homer off Albert Suarez in the fourth inning, and it stood up in the Braves 3-1 win. The Giants lost for the 26^th time in 39 games, and fell two games off the pace of the Dodgers in the NL West.

“It’s good to quiet the crowd a little bit,” Kemp said. “They get riled up when they’re up. But if you can get on the board and get them down, they’ll back off you a little bit.”

Kemp homered for the 23^rd time against the Giants, and ruined Suarez’ return to the big leagues after he was demoted to make room for the newly acquired Matt Moore on August 2. Suarez replaced Jake Peavy, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back issue. Suarez breezed through three innings, extending the Giants’ pitching staff’s scoreless streak to 25 innings, then ran into trouble in the fourth.

Adonis Garcia singled and Freddy Freeman doubled ahead of Kemp’s homer to center field. That wiped out the Giants’ early 1-0 lead courtesy of Brandon Crawford’s solo shot in the second inning. Braves’ starter Mike Foltynewicz took it from there, pitching into the eighth inning without allowing the Giants another run.

The Braves have split six games with the Giants this season, despite being saddled with the National League’s worst record. Foltynewicz has beaten the Giants twice, also shutting them down May 30, allowing three hits and a run in six innings.

Hunter Pence, Buster Posey and Brandon Belt were all out of the Giants’ lineup, and only Belt made a pinch-hitting appearance, striking out in the eighth. After Belt’s strikeout, a pair of Giants reached base, chasing Foltynewicz. But reliever Mauricio Cabrera came on to retire Joe Panik to end the inning, and preserve the Braves’ two-run lead.

“We just couldn’t get a key hit,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “That’s how you win ballgames, and that was missing tonight.”

The Giants haven’t captured a series since winning two of three in Miami three weeks ago. On Sunday, they’ll look to capture this series with Madison Bumgarner scheduled to start. Aaron Blair will get the ball for the Braves after spending the previous two months with AAA Gwinett. Blair pitched against the Giants on June 2, allowing three two-run homers in the Braves’ 6-5 loss.

The Giants did receive some good new Saturday. The Marlins and Cardinals, their closest pursuers in the wide-open wild card race both lost at home, allowing the Giants to remain three games ahead of the Marlins and Pirates.