Shohei Ohtani hit a go-ahead single in a five-run seventh inning as the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their 11th National League West title in 12 seasons with a 7-2 victory over the visiting San Diego Padres on Thursday.
Will Smith had a game-tying two-run homer and Mookie Betts added a two-run single in the seventh for the Dodgers (95-64). Ohtani went 3-for-5.
Los Angeles held off a second-half surge by the Padres, who clinched a playoff spot with a victory at Los Angeles on Tuesday.
The Dodgers’ victory came at a cost as first baseman Freddie Freeman departed in the seventh inning after rolling his right ankle trying to beat out a ground ball to second base.
Luis Arraez and Xander Bogaerts each drove in a run for the Padres (91-68), who needed a three-game sweep at Los Angeles to have a chance at catching the Dodgers in the division but lost the final two contests in the series.
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Dodgers starter Walker Buehler gave up one run on five hits over five innings in his final tune-up before the playoffs. He fanned one and walked one. Anthony Banda (3-2) came off the injured list to pitch 1⅓ scoreless innings for the win.
Padres starter Joe Musgrove gave up two runs on five hits over 6⅓ innings with one walk and six strikeouts. Tanner Scott (9-6) was charged with three runs, two earned, in two-thirds of an inning.
San Diego broke through first in the fifth inning when former Dodger David Peralta drew a one-out walk and went to third on a double by Kyle Higashioka. Arraez brought home Peralta on a ground ball to first base.
The Padres upped their lead to 2-0 in the sixth inning against Dodgers right-hander Evan Phillips when Jurickson Profar singled and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Bogaerts.
Los Angeles finally got to Musgrove in the seventh inning. Max Muncy worked a leadoff walk and Smith hit a game-tying home run to center field, his 20th on the season and just his third in 18 September games.
Enrique Hernandez had a pinch-hit single and Andy Pages was awarded first base on catcher’s interference before Ohtani hit a slow roller into right field for a 3-2 lead. Betts followed with his two-run double.
Pages hit a two-run home run for the Dodgers in the eighth, his 12th.
