Culberson’s homer clinches West title
Former Jacket star lifts Dodgers to division crown
— Sprayed champagne and beer flooded the blue carpet in the Dodgers clubhouse. The stench of alcohol hung in the damp air. Wives, kids and a puppy were in on the party with music blaring.
The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated clinching their fourth straight NL West title with the kind of storybook ending this city was built on: winning the crown in Vin Scully’s final home game when former Calhoun High star Charlie Culberson homered with two outs in the 10th inning to beat the Colorado Rockies 4-3 Sunday.
“It hasn’t really sunk in,” said Culberson, who made the opening day roster only to flip-flop between the majors and minors during the season.
Scully eluded the clubhouse chaos and throng of fans waiting outside the press box named for him, having quietly exited after broadcasting his last game at Dodger Stadium.
The 88-year-old Hall of Famer, who has just three games at San Francisco next weekend before ending his 67-year career, bid a public farewell to the team and its 51,962 fans at game’s end.
“I was hoping the team would win the game 10-0 and there would be no tension, and it would be a nice easy day,” Scully said, looking out at the sea of faces turned toward his booth. “Believe me when I tell you, I’ve needed you far more than you’ve needed me.”
At that, he asked the crowd to indulge what he called “a loving gesture” and listen to him singing “Wind Beneath My Wings” that he recorded for his wife, Sandi. As the song played, the couple stood with their arms around each other.
“A lot of history this weekend,” ace Clayton Kershaw said.
Under Dave Roberts, the Dodgers became the first NL West team to win four straight division titles, also a first in franchise history. Roberts joined Tom Lasorda (1977) as the only rookie managers to lead the club to a division title.
“It was a work in progress all year,” said Roberts, his eyes burning from champagne. “We’re going to enjoy it.”
Culberson’s first homer of the season and just sixth of his career landed in the lower left-field seats, touching off wild cheers and a raucous celebration at home plate. The Dodgers charged out of their dugout and surrounded Culberson, jumping up and down. They donned championship T-shirts and hats from carts wheeled on the field.
“I wanted to see how they did it because everybody on this team believes and thinks that we’re going to do that next year,” Colorado starter Tyler Anderson said after his team’s 83rd defeat.
The Dodgers took off their caps, turned toward the broadcast booth and held them in a salute to Scully, nattily attired in his usual long-sleeved shirt and tie despite the 95-degree heat. He began with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1950 and is the longest tenured broadcaster with a single team in professional sports.
“What a special day,” third baseman Justin Turner said. “It’s an incredible feeling.”
Catcher Yasmani Grandal partied with his puppy, Taz, after the players jogged the warning track exchanging high-fives with fans.
The Dodgers provided plenty of drama for Scully to describe.
“Yeah, Vin has a lot of pull,” Colorado manager Walt Weiss said.
Corey Seager homered with two outs in the ninth off Adam Ottavino, tying the game 3-all. It was the rookie’s 190th hit of the season to go with a single in the first and triple in the seventh.
David Dahl’s two-out homer snapped a 2-all tie in the ninth off closer Kenley Jansen
Seager’s triple rolled into the right-field corner, tying the game 2-all and chasing Rockies starter Tyler Anderson.
Culberson contributed three hits, tying his career high, and is 7 for 14 in seven games this month.
“It’s the way it’s been all year, different guys doing different things to win games,” said Kershaw, his hair soaked and wife Ellen and young daughter Cali nearby.