PHOENIX — The Dodgers wrapped up the National League West in style on Wednesday afternoon in Phoenix, hammering four home runs and riding another brilliant start from Yoshinobu Yamamoto to an 8–0 victory over the Diamondbacks. But the real story came after the final out, when the visiting clubhouse at Chase Field turned into a frothing, beer-soaked carnival of joy. Goggles were strapped on, corks popped, and players dove across a makeshift slip-and-slide as another October run was secured.
For Clayton Kershaw, it was a night both familiar and achingly finite. Shirtless, soaked to the skin, and grinning through stinging eyes, the future Hall of Famer knew this was the last time he’d celebrate a division crown with his teammates. “You don’t get this very often in your life,” Kershaw said, clutching a dripping t-shirt a reporter had handed him. “You’ve got to celebrate every single moment. You just never know, man. So getting to celebrate something that’s been very hard for us to get to is special. And this is something special. So we’re going to celebrate. It’s still cold, but it’s the best feeling in the world. I’m going to enjoy every second of it.”
As much as his teammates have come to expect excellence from him on the mound, they also seemed intent on making sure Kershaw got his share of the burn from the champagne. He laughed when asked about it. “I can’t wait. I love every second. We’re all going to feel the burn today.”
In the corner, Blake Snell was as giddy as anyone. He came to Los Angeles for nights like this, and he made no secret of his desire to go even further. “Winning the division, that’s a good feeling,” he said. “But winning a World Series, that’s the goal. For the team, it’s the goal. Tonight’s amazing—we’ll enjoy it. But I think we’re really going to turn the corner now, investing in each other, being the best teammates we can be to find a way to win every game. Only dogs show up in October. And we got a dog right here in Snellzilla.” With champagne dripping from his face, Snell nodded toward Kershaw. “He’s going to teach me how this works—celebrating, winning, handling it all. And we’re going to keep winning.”
Max Muncy, himself no stranger to these kinds of parties, admitted that this year’s had a different feel. “It’s amazing. It’s definitely not something I take for granted,” he said. “This year was harder than ever to get to this point. We went through a lot—injuries, ups and downs, guys not performing the way they should, myself included. But we reached this point in the end. When you get to a moment like this and celebrate what you’ve accomplished, it’s unbelievable. This one feels a little bit sweeter. I’ve been through a lot of these, but this one feels different.”
That difference was obvious on the field too, where Yamamoto punctuated his first full season in America with his 200th strikeout while shutting down Arizona’s bats. Later, standing in front of his locker with champagne still dripping from his cap, he reflected on the milestone and the moment. “Over the course of the year, I was able to perform well, so to reach 200 strikeouts is something I’m very proud of. I’m very grateful to my teammates for another division championship, and to the fans for supporting us all year. I want to show an even stronger version of myself in October.”
Freddie Freeman, baptized mid-interview by Miguel Rojas with a foamy spray, chuckled as he echoed Kershaw’s words. “This took a different route than we thought, but we got here.” For Freeman, who underwent offseason surgery and battled through aches all season, this title stood as proof of perseverance. “It usually doesn’t go the way you envision. I didn’t really have an offseason, had surgery, and just tried to get on the field as fast as I could. But when you play together and play for each other, you do everything you can to help the Dodgers win that night. And here we are again, going to the postseason.”
He made sure to point out the impact of Yamamoto. “We can’t forget about Yamamoto. I feel like the whole league has forgotten about him. When you look at the numbers—sub-2.55 ERA, sub-1 WHIP, 200 strikeouts—it’s absolutely incredible what he’s done. He’s been the steadying force for us all year.”
Overseeing it all was Dave Roberts, himself drenched and smiling as he contemplated his latest division crown. “Looking at the path, this is as tough a path as we’ve been through,” Roberts said. “But the old adage, iron sharpens iron. I think we’re better for all the adversity, and I think we’re playing our best baseball.” His message to the team before the celebration was simple: “Outside of faith and family, this has got to be the most important five weeks of our lives. Regardless of what we’ve done before, nothing matters now. It’s about playing for each other, trusting each other, and playing for a championship.”
When pressed about seeding or who they might face next week, Roberts just shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t care. We’re prepared to play through October. Whoever it is, wherever it is, we’re ready.” He also made sure to single out Kershaw. “Clayton’s earned it. He’s the face of the franchise. You look at what he’s done for 18 years and how unselfish he is. It raises the expectations for all of us, including myself. What better way to finish his career than to win another championship?”
So the Dodgers celebrated in the desert, sliding across plastic sheets, stinging their eyes with champagne, laughing as beer dripped from the ceiling tiles. They’ve done this before, but this one felt like a moment suspended in time: Yamamoto’s masterpiece, Freeman’s resilience, Muncy’s honesty, Snell’s hunger, Roberts’ steadiness, and above all, Kershaw’s joy. The next step is October, where the real work begins. But for one night in Phoenix, the Dodgers let go and lived in the moment, savoring another NL West crown—and perhaps savoring it a little more, because of who they’re chasing it for.
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