Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — In the aftermath of the Dodgers’ 7-2 victory over the San Diego Padres to clinch the NL West, manager Dave Roberts expressed his elation, particularly at securing the division in front of the home fans. “This is the first time since 2018 we’ve clinched at home, and it’s sweet to do it in front of our fans, especially against a tough team like the Padres,” Roberts said.
Roberts praised the resilience of his players throughout the game and the season. He highlighted the efforts of Will Smith, who delivered a game-changing two-run homer in the sixth inning. “Musgrove threw a heck of a ballgame, but Walker [Buehler] matched him pitch for pitch, and then our bullpen did a great job. Will’s homer was huge, and you could see how much it meant to him,” Roberts added, noting the emotional bat flip that followed the hit.
The manager also discussed the significance of the division title in light of the challenges the team faced this season. “We’ve been battle-tested this year. We had no choice but to keep fighting, and nobody made excuses or quit. Winning a division over 162 games is always tough, but this year was special,” he said.
Roberts acknowledged the pressure to deliver for the city of Los Angeles but emphasized the importance of celebrating each step of the journey. “There’s always pressure when you wear a Dodgers uniform, but if you don’t enjoy moments like this, then what are we doing? We’re the city of champions, and we’re going to embrace that,” he stated, confident in his team’s ability to keep fighting through the postseason.
One of the night’s biggest highlights was Shohei Ohtani’s role in the clinching win. “Shohei’s been remarkable all season, and tonight was no different. Every night, he delivers something special, and 50,000 people came out to see him do it again,” Roberts marveled. He also shared that Ohtani was doused with champagne in the locker room, joking that “he’s going to smell like a brewery for the next week.”
Roberts closed with praise for his team’s consistency and expressed optimism about the playoff run. “We’ve got great players and a fantastic organization. Our consistency year in and year out is something I’m proud of. No team is going to fight harder than we are, and I’ll bet on our talent every time,” he said.
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