The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the bitter rival San Francisco Giants, 7-5, on Saturday night to shrink the magic number to win the National League West down to three. The earliest that the Dodgers can clinch the division is on Monday, as long as they complete the four-game sweep over the Giants on Sunday and the San Diego Padres lose back-to-back games.
A spot was already secured for the postseason with Friday night’s win during future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw’s final regular season start at home, but with seven games left in the regular season, LA’s 12th division title in 13 years is well within sight.
More news: Dodgers’ Brusdar Graterol Unlikely to Pitch This Year in Unfortunate Update
The game began with another early shot taken by the Giants, putting up four runs in the top of the first inning at the expense of right-hander Tyler Glasnow. A Max Muncy two-run shot in the bottom half of the frame kept the Dodgers in the game.
Glasnow wouldn’t give up another run to San Francisco for the next four innings, ending his day with five innings of work, four earned runs, six hits, four walks, and seven strikeouts. He generated 15 swings and misses on 101 total pitches.
The fourth inning consisted of Michael Conforto’s 12th home run of the season, along with a Freddie Freeman RBI single to even the score. Tommy Edman launched his first home run since the end of July (and No. 13 on the year) off the foul pole to take the lead the very next inning.
Superstar Shohei Ohtani unleashed his 53rd home run of the year to not only further the lead in the sixth inning, but he tied Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber for the most long balls in the National League (and second in MLB). An RBI single by Teoscar Hernández later in the inning extended the advantage, and made things that much more comfortable when Giants first baseman Rafael Devers hit a solo home run the next inning.
More news: Dodgers’ Will Smith Has Hairline Fracture, Could Miss Start of Postseason
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Have you downloaded the new Dodgers Nation app yet? Click here for Apple Users and here for Android Users to be a part of the redesigned app to give fans everything they need, all in one place. Don’t miss out on live GameCast with play-by-play, news and analysis, Dodgers Nation podcasts and videos, all the stats you want and more!
6 Responses
Dodgers have won the Division 12 of the last 13 years. The one yearthey didn’t Giants did with 106 wins to 104 by L.A. (I think that’s about right). Been a hecka run.
And I think Dodgers win that 12th division title! Should be a clean sweep since 2013 but that was quite a Giants team in 2021
I do not necessarily trust that we will win the Division, as much as I love this team. We have only a handful of games left in the regular season but Bullpen meltdowns continue to loom large and the Padres are right at our heels. More importantly, how deep into the Post season we get largely depends on whether or not Dave continues to use the same guys he has not been able to depend on (especially in tight games)….namely, Scott and Yates but sad to say, given last year’s significant contribution, Treinen, as well. Regardless, I must agree that ” its been a hecka run.”
I think the Dodgers still take the division, especially since they need a combination of wins and/or Padres losses. The bullpen can’t keep doing this, though. After another gem from a starter, nonetheless.
I think the Dodgers bullpen is definitely the team’s biggest weakness heading into October. If a few relievers don’t step up or “flip a switch” once the playoffs begin, it’s unclear whether LA can survive the postseason without a strong bullpen. Dave Roberts did say he believes the postseason roster is about guys you can trust, so it seems he’s going to use who he believes will get them through each game.
Fortunately the Padres have been just as bad — if not worse — than the Dodgers in recent weeks. With the magic number down to three it feels almost impossible for them to throw this away.