The Los Angeles Dodgers began the biggest series of their season on Friday, facing off against the Arizona Diamondbacks in a four-game series that could ultimately determine the National League West Division champion.
Through two games, the series has featured some of everything, providing exciting back-and-forth games with late-inning heroics and historic feats.
The Dodgers took the first game, winning 10-9 with the Diamondbacks falling just short of completing the ninth inning comeback, scoring four runs in the final frame before L.A. closed it out. In the second game, the Dodgers came out victorious 8-6 with Tommy Edman providing the go-ahead runs in the ninth inning.
Both games could have ended up going either way, and neither team has given up when the momentum has shifted back to the other side. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts gave credit to both his club and the opponents for being in a constant battle, via Jack Harris of the L.A. Times:
“Tonight, man, a lot going on, a lot to unpack,” manager Dave Roberts said on a night he had only three available relievers and used all four position players on his bench. “Lot of grit, fight, from both teams. Those guys gave us all we could handle.”
The Dodgers entered the series with a four-game lead in the NL West race, but the Diamondbacks have significantly cut into that over the past two months. The series provided the Dodgers with the chance to assert their dominance in the division and put it all but out of reach.
While there are still two games to go, the Dodgers could end up leaving Arizona in the same place they entered, or they could pull ahead to a five- or six-game lead in the race. So far, they have stepped up to the challenge, playing solid baseball all-around:
“It’s bringing out the best in us,” Roberts said. “I think there’s certainly things on the micro that we got to clean up. Some defense. There was a baserunning play in there. But overall, the way we’re competing and we’re winning pitches — the compete, that’s fun to watch.”
Entering the series, Roberts was just looking for his club to continue playing quality baseball, rather than trying to step up their game to an extra gear.
However, it could be argued the Dodgers have done both, albeit some issues from their starting pitching department. The lineup has shown everything that was expected of them coming into the season, and when they’re playing as well as they are right now, the Dodgers are a tough team to beat.
Dodgers clinch winning season with win over Diamondbacks
With the win on Saturday, the Dodgers picked up their MLB-leading 82nd win of the season that guarantees they will finish the season with a record of at least 82-80.
That marks the 14th consecutive year the Dodgers have had a winning season, which set their new franchise record. It was previously held by the 1945-1967 Brooklyn Dodgers with 13 straight winning seasons, and the previous L.A. Dodgers record was 10 consecutive seasons from 1969-1978.
The last time the Dodgers had a losing season was in 2010 when they went 80-82, prior to that, it was the 2005 season when they went 71-91.
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