Dodgers finish the job at home

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5-run seventh inning gives Dodgers 5 days off before NLDS

LOS ANGELES — Plenty of big names came through for the Dodgers in a five-run seventh inning, turning a two-run deficit into a 7-2 win over the Padres on Thursday night at Dodger Stadium. That clinched the Dodgers third straight National League West title and 11th in 12 seasons.

Joe Musgrove had his way with the Dodgers through six scoreless innings, but a walk to Max Muncy in the seventh was followed by Will Smith hitting a game-tying two-run home run. That elicited a rare bat flip from Smith before rounding the bases.

In many ways the seventh inning represented a redemption of sorts for a trio of Dodgers, with some scores to settle older than others. Smith hit home runs in four consecutive at-bats over two games against the Brewers in July, but only had four home runs in the 52 games since, before Thursday's blast.

The rest of the damage in the inning came off reliever Tanner Scott, who allowed a single to Kiké Hernández before Andy Pages reached on catcher's interference. That brough Shohei Ohtani to the plate with two on, after several pangs of worry earlier in the season about his relatively lower numbers with runners in scoring position.

But he singled home the go-ahead run, making him 10 for his last 11 at-bats in those situations. Ohtani added a double in the eighth, making him the first player since 2001 with 400 total bases in a season.

Up came Mookie Betts, who was hitless in eight at-bats during the first two games of the series, including pop-ups to four different infielders on Wednesday.

"I think Mookie is a little out of whack mechanically," manager Dave Roberts said before the game. "I think he worked some things out today in the cage."

Betts had two hits on Thursday, including a two-run single in the seventh that provided much-appreciated insurance.

Andy Pages, who Roberts said earlier in the day would be on the postseason roster, put the game to bed with a two-run shot in the eighth inning.

Walker Buehler was up to the task, allowing only a run in his five innings. The only run that scored was Buehler's only walk, a one-out free pass to old friend David Peralta in the fifth inning. A double by Kyle Higashioka and a groundout by Luis Arraez opened the scoring.

Buehler was pulled after just 71 pitches in his five innings, and didn't seem too pleased with the decision, at least from the shots of the dugout in the bottom of the fifth shown on SportsNet LA. Buehler was pitching on four days rest for the first time since June 4, 2022, and only struck out one batter and induced only three swinging strikes on his night.

Evan Phillips got into his own trouble in the sixth and allowed another run to double San Diego's advantage.

Thursday was Buehler's fifth time pitching with a chance to clinch either a division or a playoff series, along with Game 163 in 2018, Game 7 of that year's NLCS, the division clincher in Baltimore in 2019, and Game 5 of the 2019 NLDS. Coupled with Thursday night against San Diego he has allowed three total runs in 30 innings, with 29 strikeouts in those situations.

Phillips' run was the only one allowed by the Dodgers bullpen during the series, in 13 innings. And now, by winning the division, that very taxed group of relievers will have five full days off between the end of the regular season and Game 1 of the NLDS on Saturday, October 5.

Thursday particulars

Home runs: Will Smith (20), Andy Pages (12)

WP — Anthony Banda (3-2): 4 up, 4 down

LP — Tanner Scott (9-6): ⅔ IP, 3 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 1 walk

Up next

One big exhale, in the form of three meaningless games against the Rockies at Coors Field, other than to determine which order the Dodgers and Phillies will finish in the top two seeds in the National League playoffs. Friday night (5:10 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA) is a bullpen game for the Dodgers.