The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their fourth straight National League West title on Sunday afternoon as utility man Charlie Culberson launched a walk-off home run in the 10th inning to defeat the Colorado Rockies, 4-3.
The home run was Culberson’s first of the season and just the sixth in his four-year Major-League career.”I don’t hit too many homers, (but) I knew that one was gone. It’s just one of those things,” Culberson said after his heroics.
Sunday not only marked the Dodgers’ final home game of the season, but also legendary broadcaster Vin Scully’s last home game of his 67-year career. That aspect certainly wasn’t lost on the Dodgers.
Brandon McCarthy was honored to have started Scully’s last game, and the afternoon was also difficult for Culberson to put into words.
“Honestly, it hasn’t really hit me yet,” he said. “To see all the fans here, I couldn’t have written anything better than this. I’ve done that before, but not in a game like this, to clinch the division.”
This season is Culberson’s first in the Dodgers organization. He bounced to and from Triple-A Oklahoma City for much of the season, and he’s only played 30 games with Los Angeles thus far. That being said, Culberson doesn’t feel like any sort of outcast.
“I honestly don’t know how to describe the feeling. Best hit I’ve ever hit in my life, best moment in my baseball career,” he said. “This is my first year with Dodgers and I feel like family here. The guys here are unreal, the coaches and fans. I feel like I belong.”
Culberson embodies the Dodgers’ 2016 season, one that’s been marred by countless injuries. Los Angeles set a Major League record by placing 28 different players on the disabled list. “It’s unbelievable how many guys have contributed to get to where we are,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
“Charlie is one of those blue-collar, grit guys that is all in. For him to get that big hit, it couldn’t happen to a better guy.”
