LOS ANGELES (CNS) – The Dodgers won their third consecutive National League West title and 11th in the past 12 seasons with a 7-2 victory over the San Diego Padres Thursday evening at Dodger Stadium in their final home game of the 2024 regular season.
The Dodgers combined Will Smith’s two-run homer, Shohei Ohtani’s tie- breaking single and Mookie Betts’ two-run single for a five-run seventh inning that gave them a 5-2 lead. Andy Pages hit a two-run homer in the eighth for the Dodgers.
The victory in front of a sellout crowd announced at 52,433.gave the Dodgers (95-64) a four-game lead over the Padres (91-68) with three games to play for both teams.
It was the first time the Dodgers clinched a division title in front of their fans since 2018.
Anthony Banda (3-2), the third of five Dodger pitchers, retired all five batters he faced for the victory in his first appearance after spending 16 days on the injured list because of a fractured left hand.
Tanner Scott (9-6), the second of four San Diego pitchers, was charged with the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) and three hits in two- thirds of an inning.
Padre starter Joe Musgrove remained winless against the Dodgers with seven losses. He was relieved by Scott with one out in the seventh inning and the bases empty and the scored tied 2-2. Musgrove allowed two runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings, stuck out six and walked one.
Dodger first baseman Freddie Freeman twisted his right ankle while trying to avoid a tag at first base in the seventh and had to leave the game.
Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, said X- rays on Freeman’s ankle were negative but he would not play in the three- game series against the Colorado Rockies in Denver beginning Friday to conclude the regular season.
Freeman was on crutches and wearing a walking boot during the Dodgers’ postgame celebration.
The Dodgers still have one more thing to play for in the regular season — home-field advantage throughout the postseason. The Dodgers have a one-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies (94-65) in the race for the best record in Major League Baseball with three games remaining for both teams.
If the Dodgers and Philadelphia end the regular season with the same record, the Phillies would have home-field advantage throughout the postseason because they won the season series against the Dodgers.
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