PLAYOFF CLINCHER: Dodgers pitcher Takashi Saito celebrates after the final out with the Dodgers clinching a playoff spot after a 4-2 win over the San Francisco Giants AT&T Park in San Francisco. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)
Dodgers Nomar Garciaparra hugs coach Richard Donnelly after the Dodgers clinch. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)
Dodgers celebrate clinching a playoff berth with a 4-2 win over the San Francisco Giants. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)
James Loney celebrates with teammates after clinching a spot in the playoffs. (Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images)
Takashi Saito sprays some champagne while celebrating with teammates. (Jed Jacobsohn / Getty)
Dodger coach Mariano Duncan,left and manager Grady Little celebrate after the 4-2 win. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)
Rafael Furcal gets a champagne shower while celebrating the Dodgers win. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)
GAME 1: A fan interferes as New York Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado tries to catch a foul ball hit by Dodgers Nomar Garciaparra in the second inning. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)
Dodgers Jeff Kent, left, and J.D. Drew were both tagged out at home plate by Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca in the 2nd inning in New York Wednesday. Plate umpire John Hirschbeck makes the call. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
Dodgers Marlon Anderson tries to avoid the tag along the first baseline, but is out by New York Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)
Dodgers batter Marlon Anderson tosses his bat in the air after strinking out against pitcher John Maine. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
Dodgers pitcher Derek Lowe pulls down his cap after giving up the second homerun of the fourth inning to New York Mets Cliff Floyd. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)
New York Mets players and fans celebrate as Carlos Delgado scores in the sixth inning. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)
Mets runner Carlos Delgado, on the ground, is congratulated by teamate Paul Lo Duca after scoring a run as Dodgers pitcher Derek Lowe walks in the 6th inning. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
Dodgers Marlon Anderson breaks up a double play attempt by Mets Jose Reyes. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
Dodgers Nomar Garciaparra strikes out in the ninth inning, with two outs, and one man on base. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)
Dodgers Nomar Garciaparra is dejected after striking out to end the game, with one man on base. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)
GAME 2: Dodgers first baseman Nomar Garciaparra, who would leave the game in the sixth inning after injuring his leg, almost lets an infield fly get away in the first inning. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)
Dodger pitcher Hong-Chih Kuo can’t field a ground ball hit by New York’s Endy Chavez in the third inning. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)
Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal bobbles the ball but manages to throw out Mets shortstop Jose Reyes. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
Mets pitcher Tom Glavine threw six shutout innings Thursday against the Dodgers in Game 2. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
Dodgers first baseman Nomar Garciaparra reacts after pitcher Hong-Chih Kuo can’t field a ground ball hit by Mets outfielder Endy Chavez (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)
Dodgers infielder Jeff Kent, who had two hits Thursday, breaks up a double play attempt by Mets shortstop Jose Reyes. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
Dodgers pitcher Hong-Chih Kuo buries his face in his glove after the New York Mets scored in the fifth inning. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)
Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal can’t reach a hit by Mets third baseman David Wright. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca bites his helmet after almost hitting a grand slam in the 5th inning. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca pumps his fist after his team beat the Dodgers, 4-1, in Game 2. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
Dodgers Manager Grady Little adjust his hat while Kenny Lofton walks back to the dugout after striking out. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
Dodgers catcher Russell Martin reacts in the dugout as the Dodgers lose 4-1 to the New York Mets in Game 2 of the National League Division Series. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)
GAME 3: Dodgers left fielder Marlon Anderson bounces off the wall trying to play a ball hit by the New York Mets in the third inning during Game 3 of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)
Dodger fans cheer from the right field bleachers during Game 3. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)
Russell Martin collides with Mets Jose Reyes while breaking up a double play in the 2nd inning. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
Mets Cliff Floyd slides home safely in front of Dodger catcher Russell Martin on Shawn Green’s double in the 3rd inning. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
Dodgers pitcher Greg Maddux wipes his brow as the New York Mets scored 3 runs in the first inning. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)
Dodgers left fielder Marlon Anderson falls to the ground after hitting the wall on Mets Shawn Green’s double in the 3rd inning. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
Dodgers pitcher Greg Maddux can’t beat Mets Jose Reyes to the 1st base in the 2nd inning. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
Dodgers pitcher Jonathan Broxton walks back to the mound after giving up three runs to the Mets in the 6th inning. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
Dodgers catcher Russell Martin waits for the throw while Mets Shawn Green scores the tying run in the 6th inning. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
New York Mets Michael Tucker hustles around third base to score the go-ahead run in the sixth inning. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)
Russell Martin tries to throw out Mets Paul Lo Duca as teammate Michael Tucker scores the go-ahead run in the 6th inning. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
New York Mets Chris Woodward gets high-fives from teammates after scoring in the eighth inning to give the Mets a 8-5. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)
Dodgers J.D. Drew hits a fly ball out with two runners in scoring position against the Mets in the 6th inning. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
Dodger players can only watch as the Mets ened their season in Game 3 of the National League Playoffs. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
Mets Jose Valentin is all smiles after eliminating the Dodgers in Game 3. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
Dodgers Ramon Martinez walks off the field at the end of the game as Mets players celebrate. (Wally Skalij / LAT)
New York Mets celebrate in the background as Dodgers Ramon Martinez makes the third out in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Dodgers lose the National League Division Series 9-5 at Dodger Stadium. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)
James Loney, left, Russell Martin and Toby Hall celebrate. (Gina Ferazzi / LAT)
