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 in the majors 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.
The Dodgers, with a power-packed lineup and imposing rotation, gained sole possession of first place on April 17 and never looked back. Their final pursuer was the Arizona Diamondbacks, who started the day a whopping 17 games out of first place.
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.
Last year, the Dodgers didn't wrap up the division until the 163rd game of the season, defeating Colorado in a playoff on Oct. 1.
"I'd rather the early one versus the late one. We did the late one last year," manager Dave Roberts said before the game. "I like this one just so you can really get it past you. Give guys rest, put guys in roles and positions you might face in the postseason."
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.
Tagged by Colorado for six runs in five innings during his previous start, Buehler (13-3) limited last-place Baltimore to four hits over seven shutout innings for the team with the lowest ERA in the league.
Buehler struck out 11, reaching double figures for the sixth time. He has 201 for the season.
The Dodgers can now coast to the finish, although they have a shot at breaking the franchise record for largest final first-place margin, 13 games in 1955. LA is also in the running against Houston and the Yankees for best record in the majors and home-field advantage throughout October.
Dog day
Attendance was announced at 12,356 - including 233 dogs, as part of a bring-your-dog-to-the-park promotion.
Trainer's room
Dodgers: 3B Justin Turner (ankle) opted to rest his tender ankle and was not in the starting lineup. "He feels that trying to give it another day will benefit him," Roberts said. "It's something he could play through but it just doesn't make a whole lot of sense." OF Alex Verdugo (right oblique strain) is taking a few days off from baseball activities, making his potential to return less probable. "Each day we don't get him moving closer to playing makes it more bleak," Roberts said. "But we're still hopeful."
Orioles: RHP Hunter Harvey threw a bullpen before Tuesday's game. He hasn't pitched since facing one batter at Tampa Bay on Sept. 2. "He just had a little bit of soreness, and we just wanted to stay away from him for a while," manager Brandon Hyde said. RHP Asher Wojciechowski will be pushed back a day or two. He was removed from Sunday's starter after two innings, and Hyde thought Wojciechowski was suffering from fatigue.
Up next
Dodgers: RHP Ross Stripling (4-4, 3.42 ERA) makes a spot start in his first appearance since throwing two innings of scoreless relief against Colorado last Wednesday.
Orioles: LHP John Means (10-10, 3.50) is 2-5 in his last seven games but has not allowed more than two earned runs in four straight starts.
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Twins 5, Nationals 0
MINNEAPOLIS-José Berris surrendered only two singles over seven innings in his best start in six weeks, Mitch Garver hit the tiebreaking two-run homer in the seventh inning, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Washington Nationals 5-0 on Tuesday night in an interleague matchup of teams on postseason tracks.
Berris (12-8) struck out four and walked one, the first turn of more than six innings for the two-time All-Star right-hander since July 31. He had an 8.07 ERA over those previous six starts.
Anbal Snchez was almost as sharp for the Nationals, until the seventh. Eddie Rosario led off with a double, and Garver followed with his 30th homer in 280 at-bats this season. Snchez (8-8) finished the inning, ending his evening with four hits and one walk allowed along with five strikeouts.
The American League Central-leading Twins took a five-game lead on Cleveland into the night. The Indians, who have six more losses than the Twins, played at the Los Angeles Angels.
The Nationals entered 9 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the National League East, but they were in the first wild card spot, 4 games above the cut, ahead of Milwaukee. The Chicago Cubs have the second spot.