The Dodgers clinched their eleventh Nationwide League West title within the final 12 years Thursday at Dodger Stadium, beating the San Diego Padres 7-2.
The Dodgers (95-64) can’t be caught by the Padres (91-68) as every workforce embarks on its ultimate three video games of the 2024 common season.
The Dodgers will achieve this with out first baseman Freddie Freeman, who rolled his ankle working out a floor ball after an ungainly play at first base within the seventh inning.
Freeman, 35, was in ache on the sphere after he tripped working down the first-base line.
After the sport, Freeman was in a strolling boot whereas his teammates celebrated their clinching celebration. However he informed reporters after the sport that an x-ray revealed no structural harm to the ankle, leaving his possibilities of taking part in within the postseason intact.
The Dodgers will journey to Colorado Friday for 3 video games in opposition to the Rockies to finish the common season. Their subsequent sport after that received’t be till Oct. 5 in opposition to an opponent to be decided. It would both be the Atlanta Braves, New York Mets or Arizona Diamondbacks — the three groups combating for the ultimate two Wild Card berths — or the NL Central-winning Milwaukee Brewers.
Thursday, the Dodgers and Padres had been tied 2-2 when back-to-back run-scoring hits by Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts keyed a rally to place Los Angeles forward 5-2. Andy Pages homered within the eighth inning to place the Dodgers forward 7-2.
Will Smith additionally homered for the Dodgers, who’re nonetheless making an attempt to carry off the Philadelphia Phillies (94-65) for the No. 1 seed within the postseason. The Phillies end their season in opposition to the Washington Nationals this weekend in D.C.
If Freeman has eight days to relaxation earlier than his subsequent sport, the hope is he can decide up the place he left off. President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman informed reporters amid the clubhouse celebration Thursday that Freeman might even have performed in Colorado if the Dodgers had not but clinched the division title.
In 148 video games this season, Freeman batted .282 with a .378 on-base proportion and .476 slugging proportion. He’ll end the season with 22 residence runs and 89 RBIs, to go along with 35 doubles and 9 stolen bases.
Not since 2018 had the Dodgers clinched a division title at residence with followers in attendance. The Dodgers clinched a playoff berth in 2020 at residence, however followers weren’t allowed within the stadium as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
Picture credit score: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Pictures
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