LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers won the NL West on Thursday night by rallying to beat the second-place San Diego Padres 7-2 with a five-run outburst in the seventh inning.
The Dodgers had not clinched at home since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, when cardboard cutouts replaced fans in the stands. The last time fans were on hand for a clincher at home was 2018.
A sellout crowd of 52,433, including retired Dodgers star Manny Ramirez, packed Dodger Stadium for the finale of the crucial series between the top two teams in the division.
The Dodgers took two of three from the Padres and head to Colorado for a three-game set to conclude the regular season.
Their 11th division title in 12 seasons earned them a first-round bye in the postseason.
The Dodgers improved to 95-64 and will open the playoffs on Oct. 5 at home in a best-of-five Division Series.
Will Smith hit a tying, two-run homer off Joe Musgrove to start the Dodgers’ rally. Musgrove had held them scoreless through six innings as the Padres took a 2-0 lead.