The 2021 season has been fraught with injuries for the Los Angeles Dodgers while attempting to “run it back.” The team is trying to win their ninth consecutive National League West Division title, as well as the World Series for the second year in a row; something that has not been accomplished since the New York Yankees did so in 1999 and 2000.

It is no secret that the Dodgers have depth, and because of that, there is always some amazing statistic being reported. Fans were treated to a few such feats during Sunday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.

With Sunday’s victory, the Dodgers now have 100 wins in the 2021 regular season – the third time they have done so in the past five seasons. With the San Francisco Giants having collected their 100th win on Friday, it is the fifth time since 1969 that two teams in the same division have accomplished this. The Yankees and Orioles did so in 1980, the Braves and Giants in 1993, the Mariners and A’s in 2001, the Red Sox and Yankees in 2018, and now the Dodgers and Giants.

“We can enjoy this one tonight; team won a hundred wins. It’s something to be proud of,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after his team’s 3-0 shutout of the NL West last-place Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday. “But we understand we gotta win six more ballgames.

“Looking at a long season and, as you mentioned, this is the third time we’ve won a hundred games; a lot to be said for the organization. You’re proud of it, you take a moment to enjoy it, to relish it. We, in the baseball world, we just have a way of just moving on,” added Roberts.

Add to that, shortstop Corey Seager and second baseman Trea Turner both hit a huge milestone on Sunday – both hit their 100th career home runs. Seager actually hit two home runs during the game, his 11th of the season and 99th of his career in the top of the first inning, and his 12th of the season and 100th of his seven-year MLB career in the top of the third. Turner went back-to-back with Seager in the top of the first for his 25th home run of the season and 100th of his seven-year MLB career.

The last time two Dodgers hit their 100th career home run in the same game was in 1977. Outfielder Dusty Baker and third baseman Ron Cey both homered against the San Diego Padres for their 100th career home runs.

This is an amazing accomplishment considering that Seager was injured on May 15 after being hit by a pitch on the hand by Marlins left-hander Ross Detwiler. Seager was sidelined for 65 games while healing from a broken metacarpal. The regular season is comprised of 162 games, and the Dodgers have been trailing the San Francisco Giants for most of it. That is a significant amount of time to be without one of their star players. To say the Dodgers were missing both his bat and glove for those eleven weeks would be an understatement.

The Charlotte, North Carolina native was drafted by the Dodgers in 2012 as the 18th overall pick in the first round. He debuted on September 3, 2015, and has been a significant contributor to the team ever since. He boasts multiple awards despite being typically soft-spoken and humble. Seager was the 2016 NL Rookie of the Year, a two-time All-Star, and Silver Slugger (2016, 2017), and the NL NLCS MVP as well as the World Series MVP for 2020.

Seager was asked after the game about his milestone home run, which traveled an amazing 464 feet, the second-longest of his career.

“That’s really cool. That’s kind of a milestone,” said the defending World Series MVP. “It’s really exciting. You celebrate it tonight and then back to business on Tuesday.”

Due to injuries like Seager’s, the Dodgers acquired right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer and shortstop-turned-second baseman Trea Turner from the Washington Nationals at the July 31 MLB trade deadline. Both have proven to be pivotal pieces for the team, helping to fill some of those gaps while players were on the mend.

Having played shortstop, second base, and in the outfield, Turner is an exceptional player in his own right. He was drafted in 2014 by the San Diego Padres as the 13th overall pick in the first round. He made his Major League debut with the Washington Nationals on August 21, 2015. Even though most of Turner’s time was spent on the East Coast, he has been making outstanding contributions now that he is wearing Dodger Blue.

When asked about his 100th home run in the same game as his teammate, Turner also said that it was pretty cool.

“Hopefully, it’s the first hundred and hopefully there’s many more after,” Turner told reporters.

Both players had nice things to say about each other, which speaks to how great these guys – and this team – are.

“I heard that, that’s really cool,” Seager said, after learning that both he and Turner had hit their 100th career home runs in the same game. “It’s been fun to watch him play, it’s been fun to play against him, and it’s been really fun to play with him. We’re excited about what’s next.”

We, as fans, are lucky to have such an exceptional team. Here’s to the next milestone – or a hundred.

Keep it up, Dodgers!

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