09/19/24 09:35:00
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09/19 21:33 CDT Dodgers clinch 12th straight playoff berth on Shohei Ohtani's
historic night
Dodgers clinch 12th straight playoff berth on Shohei Ohtani's historic night
By ALANIS THAMES
AP Sports Writer
MIAMI (AP) --- In what has become a fall custom, the Los Angeles Dodgers are
heading to the playoffs.
The Dodgers clinched their 12th consecutive postseason berth Thursday with a
20-4 rout of the Miami Marlins on the same night that star slugger Shohei
Ohtani homered three times and stole two bases to become the first player in
major league history with 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season.
The magic number for the NL West-leading Dodgers to clinch the NL West dropped
to six. They hold a 2 1/2-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers in their pursuit
of the NL's No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the playoffs. They lead the San
Diego Padres by four games in the division.
The New York Yankees and Brewers became the first teams to clinch playoff
berths on Wednesday. The Cleveland Guardians secured a playoff spot earlier
Thursday.
Los Angeles has won at least 90 games in each of the last 11 162-game seasons.
The Dodgers' only non-division title during the span was in 2021, when they won
107 games and finished one game behind NL West champion San Francisco.
However, the Dodgers have only one World Series title during that stretch. They
won it all during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
Ohtani doubled twice, singled and drove in a franchise-best 10 runs on
Thursday. He nearly hit for the cycle but was thrown out third trying to
stretch his second double into a triple in the third.
Ohtani, who signed a $700 million, 10-year deal with the Dodgers last December,
is heading to the postseason for the first time in his career after never
making it during his six years with the Los Angeles Angels.
"I changed teams this year and my goal has always been to make it to the
playoffs," Ohtani said through an interpreter. "It is something I really worked
hard at, and I'm really happy that we were able to make it."
Added his teammate Mookie Betts: "That's when we'll see the best Shohei, I
think, when he gets in that atmosphere."
Thursday's postgame celebration in the clubhouse was brief. After a quick
Champagne toast, the Dodgers turned their attention to what's next --- a trip
back to Los Angeles, where they will host Colorado on Friday.
"We've got to get West," manager Dave Roberts said. "And so just kind of
understanding that what we're trying to play for, teams that are kind of right
on our heels, we've got a lot of work to do."
The Dodgers will host three-game series against the Rockies and Padres in their
last homestand before closing the season with a three-game series at Colorado.
"The goal is to win the last game in October," Roberts said, "but you've still
got to enjoy moments. And it's been a grind of a season, a lot of challenges.
With that, when things happen like this tonight, you've got to enjoy it."
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
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