The Dodgers Clinch Their 7th Straight Division Title
Behind a dominant, 7 shutout inning effort from Walker Buehler, and a pair of Corey Seager home runs, the Dodgers eliminated the Arizona Diamondbacks and secured their 7th straight division title.
NL WEST CHAMPS. pic.twitter.com/pDnx6gocqQ
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 11, 2019
As the celebration went from the field to the locker room, manager Dave Roberts — in an incredibly classy move — waited for personnel to get the injured Max Muncy and Alex Verdugo on face-time before anyone popped the champagne.
I love Roberts so much. Had the team FaceTime Muncy and Verdugo to be apart of the celebration. pic.twitter.com/Q9ESar3C8j
— Randi (@randi9320) September 11, 2019
Roberts also waited for rookie infielder Gavin Lux to get into the locker room. Lux collected 3 hits on the night, including his first career home run.
Keeping @TheRealGavinLux in the yard? Good Lux.
Congrats, Gavin, on your first career homer! pic.twitter.com/JJ1piwBJIp
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 11, 2019
Overall, the on-field celebration was tame, but young ace Walker Buehler was fierce on the mound as he pitched his second consecutive division clinching game. Over 7 shutout innings, Buehler allowed only 4 hits while striking out 11 and walking none.
More from the team’s official press release
The Los Angeles Dodgers tonight clinched the 2019 National League West Division Championship, the club’s seventh straight and 18th overall NL West title.
The Dodgers will play “October Baseball” for the 33rd time in franchise history (24th time in Los Angeles) and for the ninth time in the last 12 years. Los Angeles previously won division titles in 1974, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1988, 1995, 2004, 2008, 2009 and 2013-18 and twice reached the postseason as the Wild Card, in 1996 and 2006. In franchise history, the club has won six World Series championships and 23 National League pennants.
Los Angeles is just the third-ever team to win seven or more consecutive division titles, joining the New York Yankees (9, 1998-2006) and Atlanta Braves (14, 1991-2005). Dave Roberts, the Dodgers’ manager since 2016, becomes the first manager in MLB history to lead his team to division titles in his first four full seasons as a big league manager.
I’m not as thrilled about this Dodgers clinch as the previous couple of years. They should have clinched against the hated rival Giants at home with all the fan support behind them but instead they threw an egg on the home crowd. Next they clinched by beating up on the lowly Orioles, the second worst team in the league, that is not an accomplishment by any stretch of imagination, instead I think it’s an embarrassment, it’s like an adult beat up a 5 year old kid then bragged “I Won!”.