It’s been expected since Day 1. Even more since Sept. 1.
Now it’s official: The Dodgers are going to the playoffs.
A.J. Ellis broke a 6-6 tie with a solo home run off Josh Collmenter in the eighth inning, lifting the Dodgers to a heavily anticipated win over the Arizona Diamondbacks to clinch the National League West title.
See the game-winning home run for yourself:
It’s the Dodgers’ first playoff berth since 2009, when they won 95 games and the division before losing to the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Championship Series.
The Dodgers took a 3-0 lead on a three-run home run by Hanley Ramirez in the third inning, only to lose the lead when the Diamondbacks rallied for six runs off Ricky Nolasco in the bottom of the inning.
Arizona, the second-place team in the NL West since July 22, didn’t score another run against relievers Brandon League, Brian Wilson, J.P. Howell or Kenley Jansen, who threw a scoreless ninth inning.
Playoff tickets for all three rounds go on sale at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
