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Baseball: Dodgers become first to clinch spot in MLB postseason

Sports

Baseball: Dodgers become first to clinch spot in MLB postseason

By Agence France-Presse

Jake Cronenworth #9 and Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres are unable to place the tag as Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers steals second base during the fifth inning of a game at PETCO Park on September 16, 2020 in San Diego, California. Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images/AFP

LOS ANGELES (AFP) -- AJ Pollock and Chris Taylor hit solo home runs Wednesday as the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 7-5 to become the first team to clinch a spot in MLB's expanded playoffs.

The win, in the rubber match of a three-game series, increased the 35-15 Dodgers' won-loss lead on the Padres to 3 1/2 games in the National League West standings.

The Dodgers scored runs against five of the nine San Diego pitchers. Left-handed reliever Adam Kolarek earned the win by pitching two-thirds scoreless innings at PETCO stadium in San Diego.

Right-hander Dustin May entered the game in the third inning and held the Padres to three runs on three hits over 5 1/3 innings.

The Dodgers took the lead for good in the third when Max Muncy belted a tie-breaking RBI double off Joey Lucchesi and Will Smith followed with a single to drive in another run and made it 3-1. Smith finished with three RBIs.

Los Angeles broke it open with three runs in the fifth. Taylor scored the Dodgers' final run with a homer off Garrett Richards to lead off the sixth, making it 7-1.

Related Tags

San Diego Padres AJ POLLACK Major League Baseball Los Angeles Dodgers

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