D-backs come up short in NL West again, Dodgers with 7th straight title

Sep 10, 2019, 9:23 PM | Updated: 9:25 pm

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Dustin May, center, is doused during a lockerroom celebration after the Dodgers defeated the Baltimore Orioles 7-3 in a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019, in Baltimore. The Dodgers clinched the NL West title. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

(AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

BALTIMORE— The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their seventh consecutive NL West title in fitting fashion, using two home runs by Corey Seager and a masterful pitching performance by Walker Buehler to beat the Baltimore Orioles 7-3 on Tuesday night.

After the final out, the first team to clinch a playoff spot this season gathered at the mound for a subdued celebration that included a wardrobe change for a pending champagne celebration in the clubhouse.

Los Angeles, coming off consecutive World Series losses to Houston and Boston and seeking its first title since 1988, will likely begin the postseason at Dodger Stadium on Oct. 3 against the NL wild-card team.

This is the earliest that Los Angeles (94-52) has ever clinched the division, both in terms of date and games. The 1977 team did it in Game 151, and the 2013 club clinched on Sept. 19.

Though an Arizona loss to the New York Mets would have clinched it for the Dodgers, Los Angeles emphatically took care of business on its own. Seager homered with two on to cap a four-run first inning against Ty Blach (1-3) and added a two-run drive in the third for a 6-0 lead.

Gavin Lux hit his first career homer in the fifth to increase the Dodgers’ NL record for long balls in a season to 258.

Buehler (13-3) limited last-place Baltimore to four hits over seven shutout innings. He struck out 11.

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