On Sept. 19, 2013, the Los Angeles Dodgers came from behind to defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 7-6, to clinch the National League West at Chase Field. The division title was the franchise’s 12th at the time, and Sept. 19 was the earliest calendar date Los Angeles had ever clinched.
The 2019 Dodgers bested that mark by wrapping up the division on Sept. 10.
During the back-and-forth affair in 2013, Hanley Ramirez hit a three-run home run in the third, but the Diamondbacks responded with six runs in the bottom half of the inning. The Dodgers pulled to within a run of the Diamondbacks in the sixth inning, then tied it in the seventh behind Ramirez’s second home run of the game.
A.J. Ellis’ go-ahead solo home run in the eighth inning proved the difference. Kenley Jansen then entered in the ninth to convert the save opportunity.
The win capped off a remarkable season and stretch that saw the Dodgers go from last place in the NL West to division champions. They were propelled by a historic 42-8 run during the summer, which the 2017 club exceeded with a 43-7 stretch.
After celebrating in the clubhouse, several Dodgers players stormed the Chase Field pool to continue basking in their glory. That aspect of the celebration drew the ire of the Diamondbacks and has made for underlying tension and animosity since that point.
The NL West title was the Dodgers’ first since 2009. They’ve since won a franchise-record eight consecutive division championships.
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