Dodgers Highlights: L.A. Clinches NL West With Dominant Win in Arizona
Clayton Kershaw threw seven shutout innings and Los Angeles hit three home runs to beat the Diamondbacks, 4-0. With the win, the Dodgers eliminate the Padres and clinch their ninth National League West division title in the last ten years.
The Dodgers clinched in their 141st game of the season, their earliest mark since moving to Los Angeles. The 2019 Dodgers had held that record at 146.
This is Kershaw’s fourth time pitching a division clincher. He has a 0.30 ERA in those four games.
Clayton Kershaw starting in games that could win the Dodgers the division:
4 games, 30 innings, 1 run, 39 strikeouts
The Dodgers clinched the division in those first 3 starts (2009, 2014, 2015) and lead 4-0 in the 8th tonight
Kershaw has allowed 2 hits in 7 innings in this one
— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) September 14, 2022
Gallo gets it going
Joey Gallo got the Dodgers on the board in the second inning with a 438-foot, two-run homer to dead center field.
How you doin', Joey? pic.twitter.com/l3piFqN3C5
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 14, 2022
The homer was Gallo’s fifth as a Dodger and set the tone once again for the Dodgers to knock around DBacks starter Merrill Kelly, who threw 96 pitches in his five innings of work. Kelly continues to be good against everyone except the Dodgers, as it should be.
Freddie and Max get in on it, too
In the third inning, Freddie Freeman said to Gallo, “Anything you can do, I can do four feet farther,” hitting a 442-foot blast over the Forbidden Pool in right-center field. It was Freeman’s 20th homer of the year.
A majestic shot from Freddie. pic.twitter.com/jZMP86ttYK
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 14, 2022
Then, in the seventh inning, Max Muncy joined the party with a laser over the wall in right field. The bomb also gave Muncy 20 for the season, putting the top five hitters in the Dodgers lineup at the 20+ mark.
Stay hot, Max! pic.twitter.com/u1zI4Tapg2
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 14, 2022
Vintage Kershaw showed up and shoved
Kershaw made his third start since returning from the injured list, and it was one of his best of the year. He threw seven shutout innings, allowing just two hits and a walk and striking out five.
The outing lowers Kershaw’s ERA to 2.44, which would be third in the National League if he had enough innings to qualify.
Cruise control. #KershawDay pic.twitter.com/6UGaGERnWb
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 14, 2022
Mookie impresses even himself
Leading off the bottom of the seventh inning, Jake McCarthy lofted a fly ball down the right-field line. Mookie Betts ran what seemed like 150 feet and made a sliding catch just on the fair side of the foul line. As he stood up, he looked at the Dodgers bullpen with a face that said, “I know I’m good, but even I’m impressed by that one.”
Okay, now you're just showing off @mookiebetts ?? pic.twitter.com/tFpVdAU1mF
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) September 14, 2022
Up next
The Dodgers play the DBacks in the series finale on Wednesday at 6:40 pm PT. Freeman might get his first day off of the season now that the Dodgers have clinched the division.
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