PHOENIX – The Los Angeles Dodgers reduced their magic number to one to clinch the National League West title with a 6-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night, a game highlighted by dominant relief performances from Roki Sasaki and Clayton Kershaw.
Sasaki, making a statement in his outing, retired the side in order on just 13 pitches, striking out two batters with 99-mph four-seamers. He displayed a stoic demeanor as he returned to the dugout, receiving applause from teammates, including Shohei Ohtani.
The Dodgers initially built a 4-1 lead, extended by Teoscar Hernández’s RBI double in the eighth inning, but the bullpen faltered. alex Vesia surrendered a single to Ketel Marte, walked Geraldo Perdomo, and allowed an RBI double to Corbin Carroll, all with one out. Edgardo Henriquez then gave up a run on a swinging bunt from Gabriel Moreno and another after Adrian Del Castillo reached on a controversial two-strike call and later scored on a sacrifice fly. The Diamondbacks erased a three-run deficit for the second consecutive night.
Manager Dave Roberts then turned to Kershaw, who hadn’t pitched in relief since the 2019 NL Division Series, to secure the ninth inning. Kershaw retired the side in order, aided by a diving catch from Tommy Edman in center field, demonstrating comfort in a potential high-leverage role for the postseason.
In extra innings, Blake Treinen escaped a bases-loaded jam in the 10th with a fly out, and Justin Wrobleski closed out the game in the 11th after Edman’s go-ahead single, retiring all three batters he faced.