Dodgers clinch postseason with win over Diamondbacks

LOS ANGELES — Well, it’s official. For the ninth straight year, the Dodgers will be doing something in October. With their win over Arizona tonight and various losses around the league, they have secured a spot in the 2021 postseason. Not that they will be particularly satisfied with that. They have bigger fish to fry. But for now, it was a good step along the way. On Tuesday, they rode a solid start from Tony Gonsolin and a relentless offensive attack to an 8-4 win in this middle game of a three-game series.

Dodgers get on the board early

It didn’t take long for the Dodgers to attack Diamondbacks starter Luke Weaver. After Mookie Betts grounded out in the bottom of the first, Max Muncy and Trea Turner hit back-to-back doubles for the Dodgers’ first run of the game. Muncy continued his resurgence in his next AB in the third, when he took a Weaver four-seamer over the right field fence for a two-run home run to put the Dodgers up 3-0. It was the start of a very good night at the plate for the Dodgers.

Gonsolin solid through five

Tony Gonsolin probably pitched his most complete game after being on the IL on Tuesday night. He looked a lot like the pitcher who had been such an important contributor in the 2020 season. Good command (only two BB), good velocity, and a fair amount of swing and miss. He did let the lead-off man on a little too often, but other than that, it was a very solid outing. His line for the night: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER.

Dodgers’ bullpen gives up runs, but Dodgers add on

The Cat Man was on a pitch limit on Tuesday, so he was pulled after five innings. However, by that time it was 5-0 Dodgers after an unearned run added on in the third and a Trea Turner dinger in the fifth. Will Smith continued his great second half with a solo shot of his own in the sixth.

However, when the game was turned over to the bullpen, things got uncharacteristically shaky. David Price gave up a run on three hits in the sixth, and Justin Bruihl surrendered a Ketel Marte three-run job in the seventh before Blake Treinen and Kenley Jansen came in to restore order in the final two innings.

Offense continues to rake

When the Snakes cleared the bases with the Marte homer in the seventh, it was suddenly 6-4, but the Dodgers picked up a couple in the very next inning, pouncing on a couple of walks and two sac flies, the first from Justin Turner and the last one from that man Will Smith again. Once those runs had been put up on the board, the eighth and ninth were stress-free affairs. Treinen cruised through a 1-2-3 eighth, and Kenley did the same in the ninth inning to secure the Dodgers fifth straight win.

Series wraps up on Wednesday

Julio Urias (17-3, 2.98 ERA) will be getting the ball on Wednesday evening for the final game of the series. And, after an off-day on Thursday, the Dodgers (now 93-53) will be heading to Cincinnati for a weekend series. Though we hate to even say it, it could be a preview of a potential Wild Card matchup. Though that would be a fine kettle of fish for a team that will most likely win over 100 games. Can someone please beat the Giants? I’m begging here.