Dodgers clinch NL West
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The Dodgers are National League West champions.
The Arizona Diamondbacks were eliminated this afternoon, losing at St. Louis, 12-3.
The moment the final out was recorded in St. Louis, Randy Newman’s ‘I Love L.A.’ was played on the Dodger Stadium loudspeaker...with no players on the field and no people in the stands.
The Arizona loss puts the Dodgers into the postseason for the 12th time since divisional play began in 1969. They will travel to Chicago, Philadelphia or New York for Wednesday’s opener in the best-of-five first-round series.
Things looked bleak a couple of months ago for the Dodgers, then Manny Ramirez landed in their laps just before the Aug. 1 trading deadline.
With MVP-style numbers, Ramirez ignited the Dodgers to their first division title since 2004. (They were a wild card team in 2006.)
With the Angels having won the AL West two weeks ago, it marks only the second time both local clubs have made the playoffs in the same season. (That was in 2004, too.)
The Dodgers play the Padres at Dodger Stadium tonight. Celebration to follow. Keep checking the Fabulous Forum and latimes.com for updates throughout the night.
--Steve Clow
