Dodgers clinch playoff berth with victory over Diamondbacks

LOS ANGELES — Even earlier the Dodgers bushed the Arizona Diamondbacks, 8-4, connected Tuesday night, their magic fig to clinch a playoff berth lacked the accustomed magic.

It’s zero, for the record. The Dodgers’ win, combined with the San Diego Padres’ nonaccomplishment to the San Francisco Giants, ensured they would scope the playoffs for a ninth consecutive season. Asked if this year’s squad reminds him of immoderate predecessor, 3rd baseman Justin Turner declined.

“We’re benignant of connected our ain way close now,” Turner said, “and playing truly bully baseball.”

The Dodgers (93-53) are connected gait for 103 wins. Yet truthful acold they’re headed consecutive for a chaotic paper berth – a peculiar way indeed. Only doubly successful franchise history, and not since 2006, person the Dodgers entered the postseason arsenic a wild-card team.

With the champion grounds successful baseball, the Giants (95-50) person a accidental to halt the Dodgers’ streak of 8 consecutive National League West titles. They pb the part by 2½ games with 17 regular-season games remaining; the Dodgers person 16 games remaining.

Maybe that’s wherefore Turner was caught off-guard erstwhile asked earlier Tuesday’s crippled astir the Dodgers’ plans to observe if they clinched.

“Although you don’t privation to instrumentality those things for granted,” helium said, “I don’t cognize if we’ll observe that.”

The Dodgers are a cleanable 5-0 connected their existent homestand, which ends Wednesday nighttime with a rematch against Arizona. The Dodgers person won 13 of 15 head-to-head meetings with the cellar-dwelling Diamondbacks (47-98).

The Dodgers ne'er trailed Tuesday. Max Muncy, Will Smith and Trea Turner each deed location runs. Muncy and Turner each finished 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs. Muncy has 33 location runs, 3rd successful the National League.

Dodgers starter Tony Gonsolin (3-1) did not let a deed until Ketel Marte led disconnected the 4th inning with a single. The right-hander allowed conscionable 2 hits and 2 walks portion striking retired six – the 3rd clip successful 11 starts this play he’s thrown astatine slightest 5 innings without allowing a run.

Marte besides deed a three-run location tally against reliever Justin Bruihl successful the seventh inning, which momentarily brought Arizona wrong 6-4.

In the bottommost of the seventh, the Dodgers loaded the bases against right-hander Brett de Geus, whom the Dodgers mislaid successful the Rule 5 draught past December. Sacrifice flies by Smith and Justin Turner provided the last score.

More to travel connected this story.