It was never really a matter of if, but a matter of when.

That when came on Tuesday night at Camden Yards in Baltimore, MD at the hands of the American League East last-place Baltimore Orioles, whom the Dodgers beat rather soundly by a score of 7-3, to capture their seventh consecutive National League Western Division title in front of a sparse crowd of 12,356, a good many of whom were Dodger fans.

Behind the stellar pitching of 25-year-old Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler and the power bats of 25-year-old Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager and 21-year-old rookie second baseman Gavin Lux, the Dodgers combined for 13 hits, including two home runs by Seager and Lux’s first MLB career home run. In fact, every Dodger in the starting lineup had at least one hit except for left fielder A.J. Pollock, with Lux going 3-for-4 on the night and coming a triple shy of hitting for the cycle.

In his remarkable 7.0 innings of work, Buehler allowed no runs and only four hits, while walking none and striking out 11. It was the 10th time this season that the Lexington, KY native and Dodgers first-round draft pick in 2015 out of Vanderbilt University went at least seven innings, which also includes a team-best two complete games.

As for Seager, he got the party started (literally) with a three-run home run to center field in the top half of the first inning. For good measure, he slugged his second home run of the night in the top of the third, a two-run shot to left, both off of Orioles left-handed starter Ty Blach.

Lux’s first career home run, a solo shot to right-center field, came in the fifth inning off of Orioles left-hander Tanner Scott. Earlier in the day, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters that Lux would get most of the playing time as the Dodgers second baseman against right-handed pitching. However, a late scratch of Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner (for a nagging sore left ankle) from the Dodgers starting lineup forced Roberts to move utility infielder/outfielder Chris Taylor to third base and insert the young Kenosha, WI native and Dodgers first-round draft pick out of Indian Trail High School in his home town at second base.

After striking out in the top of the first inning, Lux singled in the third off of Orioles right-handed reliever Evan Phillips and then debunked the whole lefty-lefty matchup thing with his fifth inning blast off of Scott. Lux then doubled to lead off the eighth inning off of Orioles right-hander Dillon Tate to finish the night a triple shy of the cycle.

Dodgers right-hander Casey Sadler made things a little uncomfortable for Dodger fans in the bottom of the eighth when he allowed three runs (two earned), including a solo home run by Orioles right fielder DJ Stewart, followed by a walk, a single, a flyout, another single (and a throwing error by Pollock), and suddenly Buehler’s masterpiece was within what former Dodgers great and former Giants manager Dusty Baker often referred to as “slam range.” Fortunately, Sadler got Orioles third baseman and Covina, CA native Rio Ruiz to ground out to second to end the inning and any threat of a comeback.

Dodgers left-hander Caleb Ferguson was called upon to pitch the bottom of the ninth, retiring the side in order, including striking out former Angles fan favorite and Orioles pinch-hitter Mark Trumbo looking, to secure Buehler’s 13th win of the season and give the Dodgers their seventh consecutive NL West title; after which a good time was had by all.

Well… except for the Orioles and their fans, of course.

Play Ball!

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