Matt Kemp's homer in the bottom of the 8th inning leads L.A. to a 3-2 win. (photo/MLB)

Matt Kemp’s homer in the bottom of the 8th inning leads L.A. to a 3-2 win. (photo/MLB)

Matt Kemp hit a go-ahead home run leading off the eighth inning off Joe Neshek, giving the Los Angeles Dodgers a 3-2 win over the Cardinals  to even their NL Division Series at a game apiece.

The eventual game winning homer came moments after reliever J.P. Howell gave up a tying, two-run homer to Matt Carpenter in the top of the inning after relieving Zack Greinke, who held the Cardinals to two hits over seven innings.

Watch Carpenter’s homer (VIDEO/MLB Network)


Greinke struck out seven, walked two and didn’t allow a runner past second base. He didn’t give up a hit until the fifth, when Kolten Wong doubled.

Cardinals starter Lance Lynn gave up two runs and seven hits in six innings, struck out eight and walked two.  The Dodgers took a 2-0 lead in the third. Dee Gordon’s groundout to second base scored A.J. Ellis, who doubled leading off .  It was the light-hitting catcher’s fifth hit of the series. Adrian Gonzalez’s two-out RBI single made it 2-0, with Greinke scoring from second.

Game 3 is Monday night in St. Louis, with John Lackey starting for the Cardinals against Hyun-Jin Ryu of the Dodgers.