The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 11-6 on Monday afternoon at Chase Field, taking a big step toward winning another National League West championship. With this victory, the Dodgers not only took a six-game lead over Arizona in the division but also secured the season series victory over the Diamondbacks, giving them a crucial tiebreaker edge should the season come to an end.
Dodgers Take the Lead in the NL West
With this victory, the Dodgers (83-55) have taken a commanding lead in the NL West and placed pressure on the two remaining contenders, the Diamondbacks (77-61) and the San Diego Padres (79-61). Although winning three of four games at Chase Field was a difficult assignment, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stated that it was essential to the team's place in the division.
“For us to win three here is a tough feat,” Roberts said. “It took some big hits, some big pitching. Overall, to come out of here up six games on these guys — we took care of business.”
Key Contributions Lead to Triumph
The Dodgers' Monday victory was the result of a group effort. Acquired during the trade deadline, starting pitcher Jack Flaherty turned in a solid effort, pitching 5 2⁄3 innings and giving up just one run while striking out seven. Because of his accurate fastball location, Flaherty was able to navigate a dangerous Arizona lineup that usually thrives on fastballs.
“You just compete,” Flaherty said of the high-stakes game. “When you get into these kind of moments and these situations, games like this on the road with a team that’s trying to catch you, it makes it a lot of fun.”
Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman led the Dodgers offensively, starting the scoring in the third inning. The game's momentum was established by Betts' RBI single and Freeman's two-run home blast, which both scored runs. The Dodgers lineup persisted in applying pressure, putting the game out of reach with three runs scored in the seventh and five more in the eighth.
A Cautious Optimism
The Dodgers still have a cautious sense of optimism despite their excellent position. First baseman Freddie Freeman made the observation that it's critical to maintain focus and not being overconfident with the division lead this early in September.
“If you’re looking at division leads this early in September, you’re doing the wrong thing,” Freeman cautioned.
Still, the Dodgers have put themselves in a very advantageous position with just 24 games remaining in the schedule and a slate of opponents that is generally favorable. It appears that they will win their 11th division championship in the previous 12 years if they can keep playing at their current caliber.
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