"On the closing night at Dodger Stadium, Matt Kemp presented his closing argument for his most-valuable-player candidacy.

So did the crowd.

"M-V-P! M-V-P!"

The stadium appeared to be half-empty but sounded full for the Dodgers' 8-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Thursday night.

The fans broke into the three-letter chant after each of Kemp's career-high three doubles. They broke into the chant when the video scoreboard displayed highlights of his first All-Star season. And they broke into the chant one last time in the eighth inning, when Kemp sent an 85-mph by fastball from Barry Zito high into the sky and the ball cleared the center-field wall for his 36th home run.

"M-V-P! M-V-P!""