Before Sunday night, all three of Matt Kemp’s home runs had come at home. Then Kemp went back home for his fourth.

Kemp’s eighth-inning, two-run shot at Dodger Stadium -- where he already had 116 in a career spent mostly with the Dodgers -- lifted the Rockies to a 7-6 victory, and their first series win at Dodger Stadium since June 29-July 1, 2018. The Rockies also became the first team in 14 series to beat the National League West-leading Dodgers.

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“Honestly, just trying to win a game,” Kemp said. “We all know that’s a good team over there and we haven’t played well against them. We needed to get this win.”

Kemp, 35, a Dodger from 2006-14 and in ‘18, didn’t receive what no doubt would have been respectful applause. Still, it was a special night. His second-inning single, before Josh Fuentes’ two-run homer off Dodgers starter Julio Urías, was the 1,800th hit of his career.

But the game-flipping homer off Caleb Ferguson was important in the here and now. By taking 2-of-3 in a place where, before this weekend, the Rockies had lost 16 of their last 17, the Rockies returned to .500 (20-20). The road trip continues Monday with the first of three against the Padres, who took 3-of-4 at Coors during the last homestand.

“Our intensity level has been up a lot more these past three or four games, really grinding it out,” said Kemp, who reached outside the strike zone for Ferguson’s breaking ball. “We know where we stand. We know we haven’t played well in the previous weeks, but we know we’re capable.

“I’m just happy it got us a win, and we get a happy bus ride to San Diego to play another good team and get some more wins.”

Nights like Sunday were the reason the Rockies signed Kemp after the shutdown.

“His composure and experience helps him in situations like this,” Rockies manager Bud Black said.

Beyond a great story for Kemp, here are three takeaways from the game and series:

1. Scrappy ways to win
Since a 23-5 home embarrassment against the Giants on Sept. 1, the Rockies have won three of four in comeback fashion. Friday’s loss was a special kind of disappointment. Kevin Pillar’s grand slam gave them an eighth-inning lead, but their relievers couldn’t keep the ball in the park in a 10-6 loss. Yet the Rockies rebounded Saturday and Sunday.

"They're arguably maybe one of the best teams in baseball, and we won two out of three in their ballpark when we didn't have a lot of momentum coming in,” Black said. “So I’m proud of the guys, for sure."

The Rockies may need the same trait in San Diego. While the Dodgers lead the Majors with 79 home runs, the Padres are second with 74. But Charlie Blackmon noted that there’s no reason the Rockies should be intimidated.

2. Almonte movin’ on back
Late-relief roles have been mercurial. For example, Carlos Estévez has been solid for much of the year, but he gave up two homers in the eighth on Friday and another one on Sunday -- Chris Taylor’s two-run shot for a 6-5 Dodgers advantage in the sixth.

But Yency Almonte delivered a perfect eighth Saturday and did the same in the seventh Sunday to earn wins both nights. Almonte has been scoreless in seven of his last nine appearances, and figures to join Mychal Givens (scoreless eighth Sunday) and Daniel Bard (saves Saturday and Sunday) protecting leads.

“Good job from Almonte, Givens and Bard -- three scoreless innings at the end, and Carlos bounced back after a home run and gave us five outs,” Black said.

3. A lift from the bottom (and production up top)
Starting with Kemp in the No. 6 spot, the final four hitters in the order went 6-for-16 -- with the Fuentes and Kemp homers, and Garrett Hampson’s RBI triple off former Rockie Jake McGee in the sixth.

Add to that Fuentes’ key two-run double Saturday, Sam Hilliard’s homer Friday, and leadoff man Raimel Tapia’s 3-for-5 Sunday and 6-for-13 series, and the Rockies are showing signs of being less dependent on Trevor Story, Nolan Arenado, Blackmon and Pillar in the middle.

“It was good to see the bottom pick us up a little bit with some key hits," Black said.