Dodgers beat Padres 7-2 to win NL West title and Shohei Ohtani heads to first postseason
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Shohei Ohtani enters the postseason for the first time in his career as the Los Angeles Dodgers scored five runs in the seventh inning to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 7-2 win in the National League West on Thursday night. San Diego Padres location.
The Japanese superstar spent his first six MLB seasons in Anaheim, where the Los Angeles Angels never posted a winning record and never played in October. He signed a $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers last offseason.
But he made a rookie mistake. During the alcohol-soaked clubhouse celebration, Ohtani, unlike most of his teammates, did not wear goggles. While speaking to the media outside an excited party, he blinked violently several times and his eyes appeared red.
“It stung me a little bit in the eye,” he said with a laugh. “I felt great and I hope I can keep drinking more champagne.”
Ohtani went 3-for-5 with a leadoff hit and also scored a run.
“I came to the stadium today really wanting to clinch, and I'm glad I was able to do that,” Ohtani said through an interpreter.
Otani's blue T-shirt was soaked and his black hair damp. Cigar smoke spilled from the clubhouse.
“We showered Shohei with champagne. He's going to smell like a brewery next week,” manager Dave Roberts said. “This is what Shohei signed up for and what he wanted to be a part of. Shohei has been outstanding all season.”
Ohtani recently became the first player in Major League history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season. He reached his 400th career base hit on Thursday, becoming the first player to do so since 2001.
The Dodgers haven't won at home since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, when cardboard cutouts replaced fans in the stands. The last time fans got a clincher at home was in 2018.
“Sheer chaos is exactly what it should be and it never gets old,” general manager Brandon Gomez said.
A sellout crowd of 52,433, including retired Dodgers star Manny Ramirez, filled Dodger Stadium for the crucial series finale. They achieved their 41st come-from-behind victory this season and are now tops in the National League.
“They really put up a lot of fight,” said catcher Will Smith, who along with his teammates wore T-shirts that read “We Own the West.”
The Dodgers took two of three games from the Padres and head to Colorado for a three-game set to close out the regular season.
With their 11th district championship in 12 seasons, they earned a first-round bye in the postseason. This will give All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman time to recover from a right ankle injury he sustained late in the game. After the game, he was on crutches and wearing a walking boot.
The Dodgers improved to a record of 95 wins and 64 losses and will open the playoffs at home on October 5th with a best-of-five division series.
Smith hit a game-tying two-run home run off Joe Musgrove to start the Dodgers' comeback. Musgrove held him scoreless until the sixth inning as the Padres took a 2-0 lead.
“That got everyone fired up,” said Smith, who hit 20 home runs in a season for the third time in his career.
Musgrove gave a lead walk to Max Muncy. Smith also hit a 426-foot shot to center field, tying the game at 2-2. It was the Dodgers' first home run in three consecutive games.
When Andy Pages reached catcher Kyle Higashioka's interference, pinch hitter Quique Hernandez singled and doubled. Ohtani singled and Hernández scored on an error, but Ohtani was made safe at second base on a Fernando Tatis Jr. throwing error.
Page and Ohtani scored on Mookie Betts' single to make it 5-2.
In the eighth inning, Pages added two runs, two strikes, and a two-out home run.
The rally against the Padres was dampened when Freeman was ejected after awkwardly colliding with Luis Arraez and the first base bag while trying to avoid a double in the seventh inning. Freeman grabbed his lower right leg and limped off the field.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
