It was an ending that was fit for Hollywood on Sunday, as the Los Angeles Dodgers fought back to earn a 3-2 victory in 10 innings over the Colorado Rockies to clinch their fourth straight National League West division title.
The win was not just special because it was the team’s last home game of the season, but it was also legendary broadcaster Vin Scully’s last game at Dodger Stadium as he is retiring at the end of the season, his 67th with the organization.
All season long the Dodgers have embodied a “next man up” mentality. They broke a Major League record by putting 28 different players on the disabled list in 2016.
But unlike the Boston Red Sox, who lost 27 players to the DL in 2012, Los Angeles was not at the bottom of their division.
Instead, the Dodgers were in position on Sunday to clinch a fourth straight NL West title. And their organizational depth once more paid dividends.
With two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning, utility man Charlie Culberson launched a walk-off home run to left field. The homer was Culberson’s first this season, and first since 2014.
But the reason Culberson got the opportunity to play hero was because of the clutch hitting from rookie shortstop Corey Seager, who not only hit an RBI triple in the seventh inning to tie the game, but also a two-out solo home run in the ninth to send the game into extras.
Naturally, the Dodgers were eager to shower Culberson and Seager with champagne during the clubhouse celebration.
