Dodgers clinch postseason spot, NL West magic quantity right down to 1

PHOENIX (AP) – Depart the maths to everybody else. The Los Angeles Dodgers know find out how to win baseball video games.

Mookie Betts hit a three-run homer, Cody Bellinger added a two-run double and the Dodgers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-0 on Monday night time behind Tyler Anderson, turning into the primary main league workforce to clinch a playoff spot this season.

For actual, this time.

The Dodgers thought that they had secured a playoff berth Sunday after beating the Padres, celebrating with a postgame toast and distributing caps with the postseason emblem on them. After additional evaluation, the maths didn’t fairly add up, and the Dodgers have been simply brief.

So for the second straight day, the Dodgers celebrated a visit to the postseason.

“I don’t know if that’s ever been finished,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated with a smile. “But it surely feels good.”

The Dodgers might make it three celebrations in three days on Tuesday, when a win would enable them to clinch the NL West. The Dodgers received their 97th recreation of the season Monday and are 54 video games over .500.

Anderson (15-3) and Diamondbacks rookie Ryne Nelson engaged in a formidable pitching duel for the primary six innings.

The Dodgers broke via towards the D-backs’ bullpen within the seventh, loading the bases with no outs. Trayce Thompson snapped the scoreless tie with a sacrifice fly off Kevin Ginkel after which Bellinger pushed the Dodgers forward 3-0 with a double into the right-center hole.

It was second for Bellinger, who was the 2019 NL MVP however hasn’t come near reaching that stage of manufacturing since. He got here into the sport with a .200 batting common, 17 homers and 55 RBIs.

“Stomach will probably be Stomach, he’ll be wonderful,” Betts stated. “He all the time finds methods. He competes. He performs a Gold Glove middle area, which is big. For some odd motive, he comes via in these clutch conditions. We all the time know he’ll be there, be a fierce competitor and be prepared when the lights activate.”

Betts crushed a three-run shot to left within the ninth, giving the Dodgers a six-run cushion. It was his thirty fourth homer of the season, a profession excessive.

Anderson went seven innings, giving up 5 hits, strolling two and placing out two.

“I didn’t suppose he had his finest stuff, to be trustworthy,” Roberts stated. “But it surely simply type of exhibits his compete and his will. He made pitches when he wanted to, bought groundballs, fielded his place and bought outs.”

Nelson threw six shutout innings in his second main league begin, extending his scoreless streak to 13 innings since he was known as as much as the large leagues final week.

The 24-year-old threw seven shutout innings towards the Padres in his debut on Sept. 5.

“He’s been improbable,” Arizona supervisor Torey Lovullo stated. “He fills up the strike zone, he’s bought three pitches he can combine in and he does a fantastic job of following the sport plan.”

Nelson didn’t have a lot hassle with the Dodgers’ potent lineup, giving up simply two hits and two walks whereas placing out six. He allowed a two-out triple to Trea Turner within the sixth after which deliberately walked Freddie Freeman, however retired Will Smith on a liner to middle that ended the inning.

WEB GEMS

Betts made a pleasant play for the Dodgers whereas getting a uncommon begin at second base.

Speedy D-backs outfielder Alex Thomas hit a grounder that deflected off Anderson’s glove, which made Betts readjust his path as he charged in to area the ball. Betts then flipped the ball together with his glove hand to Freeman, beating Thomas by a cut up second.

Betts is normally the workforce’s proper fielder however made his fifth begin of the season at second, subbing for injured Gavin Lux. Betts got here to the large leagues as an infielder earlier than switching to the outfield.

Betts’ infield cameo isn’t anticipated to be a long-term association, however he does give the Dodgers choices.

“It makes me miss being in there,” Betts stated of taking part in second. “However they pay me fairly good to be in proper area, so I’ll return on the market.”

MAKING MOVES

Diamondbacks: Known as up OF Jordan Luplow from Triple-A Reno. Designated INF Wilmer Difo for task.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: Roberts advised reporters that INF Gavin Lux (neck) continues to enhance, was doing “all baseball actions” and may very well be placed on the energetic roster this weekend. … Tony Gonsolin (proper forearm pressure) threw a bullpen Sunday and Roberts stated the All-Star right-hander got here out feeling “OK.” Roberts continues to be assured Gonsolin can return to the rotation by the top of the season however acknowledged that point is operating brief.

UP NEXT

The groups play once more on Tuesday. Arizona sends RHP Merrill Kelly (12-5, 2.94 ERA) to the mound towards LHP Clayton Kershaw (7-3, 2.62).