The Los Angeles Dodgers are back on top of the NL West after clinching their 11th division title in the last 12 seasons with a 7-2 win over the San Diego Padres on Thursday.
Michael Kopech got Kyle Higashioka to pop out for the final out to start the celebration at Dodger Stadium.
Shohei Ohtani drove in the winning run with an RBI single during Los Angeles’ five-run seventh inning.
“We checked box number one,” manager Dave Roberts said on the field following the win, according to Arash Markazi of the Sporting Tribune. “We got a long way to go, but we’re going to celebrate tonight.”
Although the on-field celebration was somewhat subdued, Roberts got the raucous champagne party started with a rousing speech in the clubhouse.
This is the Dodgers’ 22nd division title, one behind the Atlanta Braves for the most in MLB history.
The victory also ensures L.A. of a top-two seed in the National League and a bye into the NLDS. At 94-64, the Dodgers currently have one less loss than the Philadelphia Phillies, who have also clinched a bye. Philadelphia owns the tiebreaker by virtue of winning the season series against Los Angeles.
The win came at a bit of a cost, though. Star first baseman Freddie Freeman left the game in the seventh inning with an apparent ankle injury after he tried to avoid a tag at first base. He was able to limp off the field under his own power and was replaced on defense in the eighth inning.
Freeman was seen on crutches and wearing a walking boot inside the clubhouse during the champagne celebration, according to Dylan Hernández of the Los Angeles Times. X-rays on his ankle returned negative, and there’s no structural damage, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said, according to ESPN’s Alden González and The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya.
Friedman added that the former NL MVP won’t play during the Dodgers’ final regular-season series in Colorado this weekend, according to Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times. However, he expects Freeman will be ready to go when the NLDS begins.
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