After narrowly missing the postseason in 2012, the Los Angeles Dodgers responded with the offseason signings of Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu.
It was part of an effort by the newly-installed Guggenheim Baseball Management ownership group to propel the organization back into contention. The Dodgers had last qualified for the playoffs in 2009, and with a goal of again advancing to October, carried high expectations into the 2013 season.
L.A. got off to a slow start before turning it on in the second half, highlighted by an unprecedented 42-8 stretch that began on June 22. Nearly three months later, on Sept. 19, the Dodgers would secure the 12th division title in franchise history with a come-from-behind 7-6 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
In what was a back-and-forth affair, the Dodgers cracked the scoreboard first courtesy of a Hanley Ramirez three-run home run in the top of the third.
The Diamondbacks quickly answered back with six runs in the bottom half of the inning. The Dodgers later pulled to within one run of Arizona in the sixth before evening up the score behind Ramirez’s second home run of the game.
A.J. Ellis’ go-ahead solo home run in the eighth inning was the deciding blow, giving the Dodgers a 7-6 lead in which they would not relinquish. Kenley Jansen tossed a 1-2-3 frame in the ninth, solidifying a night of celebration for L.A.
The win capped off a remarkable season and stretch that saw the Dodgers go from last place in the NL West to division champions.
The Dodgers most notably stormed the Chase Field pool after celebrating in the clubhouse, drawing the ire of the Diamondbacks and their fans. The incident has made for underlying tension and animosity since that point.
The Dodgers have since gone on to win six additional division titles, increasing their streak to seven consecutive seasons in 2019 behind a franchise-record 106 wins.
L.A. enters the 2020 season as overwhelming favorites to bring that total to eight, as they’ll return the majority of their core while continuing to evaluate the trade market for a potential impact addition before Opening Day.
Top Dodgers moments of the previous decade
No. 9: Dodgers clinch NL West title in 2013
No. 10: Adrian Gonzalez hits home run in first at-bat with Dodgers
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