The Dodgers took a 12-4 win from the Padres to clinch the series but more importantly to clinch at least a tie in the NL West.
The Dodgers were blanked for the first three innings but came out to score 12 on 17 hits in the next six innings. Nomar got the scoring started with a solo homerun in the first. Casey Blake then walked and came around to score on Matt Kemp’s RBI-single, one of three Kemp hits for the night. Nomar drove in the go-ahead run in the fifth with a double to score Andre Ethier. Angel Berroa then scored Nomar on a squeeze play. Manny drove a two-run shot in the sixth before the Dodgers sent 11 men to the plate for six runs in the eighth inning. Cheers were everywhere, but they were loudest when Rafael Furcal stepped to the plate to pinch-hit, his first time playing since May 5. Furcal’s activation sent Penny to the 60-day DL, so he will be out indefinitely for the (hopefully) postseason.
Clayton Kershaw gave up three runs on six hits through 5 2/3 to pick up his fifth win. He also notched seven strikeouts. Park, Beimel, Wade, and Proctor all came out of the ‘pen to finish off the game.
The Dodgers can watch themselves win the NL West title without even doing anything…..if the Diamondbacks lose tomorrow (which is a day game), the Dodgers automatically clinch the division. This would give the boys the title before they even take the field tomorrow. But if the Dbacks win, the Dodgers need to win in order to clinch tomorrow. Greg Maddux will face is former team and their ace, Jake Peavy.
