LOS ANGELES (AP) — Wrapping up an NL West title has grow to be routine for the Los Angeles Dodgers, however in a yr wherein nobody was certain three months in the past if there could be a baseball season, supervisor Dave Roberts needed his staff to nonetheless savor the second.

The Dodgers clinched the NL’s prime postseason seed and eighth straight division title Tuesday evening with a 7-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics. They’re third staff to win a minimum of eight straight division titles, becoming a member of the Atlanta Braves (14 straight from 1991-2005) and New York Yankees (9 straight from 1998-2006).

”To quick ahead a pair months and be topped NL West champs is a credit score to everybody. It ought to by no means be taken with no consideration,” Roberts mentioned. ”Reality be instructed a whole lot of guys did not know we might clinch. We had been accountable however I let it know that it needs to be appreciated.”

The Dodgers, who personal the most effective document within the majors at 39-16, had been the primary staff within the majors to clinch a playoff berth on Sept. 16. They are going to open postseason play on Sept. 30 by internet hosting each recreation in a best-of-three sequence in opposition to the No. eight seed.

Los Angeles got here into the day with a magic variety of two and received assist with the Angels’ 4-2 victory over the San Diego Padres.

As a substitute of a wild celebration on the mound after Jake McGee struck out Sean Murphy for the ultimate out, gamers briskly walked out of the dugout to have a good time with teammates. Everybody grabbed a division clinching shirt and cap earlier than heading to the mound for a bunch picture.

The clubhouse celebration was additionally muted. Champagne was nonetheless concerned, nevertheless it was gamers toasting one another with a glass as a substitute of being showered in it.

”We talked about it as a substitute of dumping stuff on folks. It is a second it’s essential to have a good time and we did,” mentioned Corey Seager, who had three hits and certainly one of Los Angeles’ 4 residence runs, ”It stinks not having the ability to do champagne and beer showers as a result of a few of the youthful guys have not been in a position to expertise that.”

Max Muncy, Chris Taylor and AJ Pollock additionally went deep for Los Angeles, which leads the majors with 104 residence runs.

”This complete yr has been bizarre. There is not any different option to describe it,” Muncy mentioned. ”It is unhappy to not be have a good time as traditional however we all know there may be much more at stake.”

Dustin Could (2-1) went 5 innings and allowed two runs on three hits. The 22-year-old red-headed righty set a staff document by not permitting greater than three earned runs in his first 13 profession begins, which embody 10 this season.

Robbie Grossman homered for Oakland, which clinched its first AL West crown in seven years on Monday throughout a time without work. The Athletics, within the postseason for the third straight yr, at the moment are the AL’s No. Three seed.

Mark Canha had two of Oakland’s 5 hits.

Seager tied it at 1 within the first with an RBI single after which led off the fifth with a drive to heart off T.J. McFarland to increase LA’s result in 6-2.

Muncy gave the Dodgers a 3-2 lead within the third inning with a two-run homer. Taylor and Pollock prolonged it with solo photographs within the fourth off Oakland starter Frankie Montas (3-5).

Grossman shortly gave Oakland a 1-Zero lead when he homered off the left-field pole within the first inning. Sean Murphy briefly gave the Athletics a 2-1 benefit when he led off the third with a stroll and scored on a wild pitch by Could with two outs.

Montas, who allowed solely 4 residence runs in his first seven begins, has given up six in his previous three. The appropriate-hander went 4 innings and yielded 5 runs on seven hits with a stroll and three strikeouts.

”They are a fairly good staff that while you make errors, they make you pay,” Oakland supervisor Bob Melvin mentioned. ”They’re fairly good shedding and making you throw it over the plate. They made Montas pay, sadly.”

Cody Bellinger added two hits for the Dodgers, together with an RBI single with the bases loaded within the seventh.

ATHLETICS ADVANCE

The A’s have a staff textual content thread they used to have a good time clinching their first AL West title since 2013 throughout their off day Monday, when the Mariners beat Houston.

”We did not actually have a good time an excessive amount of but. It is thrilling,” Chad Pinder mentioned. ”We needed to do it on our personal phrases. We nonetheless received the division and that was our aim. It is good to know we’ll be enjoying residence for the sequence.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Story continues

Athletics: INF/OF Pinder (strained proper hamstring) deliberate to run at Dodger Stadium and check his leg with hopes of nonetheless enjoying earlier than the conclusion of the common season. …. RHP Daniel Mengden has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Las Vegas. He was designated for task after being medically cleared and reinstated from the COVID-19 injured record following a constructive check from Aug. 28.

Dodgers: 3B Justin Turner was scratched from the lineup lower than an hour earlier than first pitch on account of left hamstring discomfort He got here off the injured record on Sept. 15 and has not performed within the subject since Aug. 28. … Joc Pederson was within the lineup at DH after lacking 5 video games whereas on the household emergency medical record. Roberts mentioned earlier than the sport that he wasn’t certain if Pederson will stay with the staff throughout the whole postseason.

UP NEXT

Athletics: LHP Sean Manaea (4-3, 4.50) is 4-1 with a 2.25 ERA over his final 5 begins relationship to Aug. 20.

Dodgers: LHP Julio Urias (3-0, 3.49) will make his team-leading 11th begin.

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AP Baseball Author Janie McCauley in San Francisco contributed to this story.

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