It was never a matter of if, but when.

That when (or win) came on Tuesday night at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix, as the Dodgers shut out the Arizona Diamondbacks by a score of 4-0 to clinch their ninth National League West Division title in the last 10 seasons.

“You know when you start Spring Training, you start the season, you know you have a talented roster,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “But looking into the season, we weren’t the defending National League West Champions. That was first on our list, to get the division back in Los Angeles.”

Mission accomplished.

“Our goal going into this year was to put ourselves in the best position to win this division,” echoed Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman.

Mission accomplished.

Heading into Tuesday night’s contest, the Dodgers had an ace up their sleeve … literally – 34-year-old nine-time All-Star and (thus far) three-time National League Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw.

“How fitting, right? We have a chance to clinch the division and Clayton’s on the mound for us again and gave us seven unbelievable innings,” said champagne-soaked unofficial team captain Justin Turner. “He was as spectacular as you’d expect him to be.”

That he was. Kershaw allowed no runs and only two hits in his brilliant 7.0 innings pitched, while walking one and striking out five.

“I just want to say I love you guys, and thank you for being so good,” Kershaw said to his teammates to kick off the Dodgers postgame clubhouse celebration. “It’s really fun to be on this team.”

It was Kershaw’s eighth win of the season (against three losses) and the 193rd of his Cooperstown-bound career.

As for those four Dodgers runs, all of them came via the long ball – a two run/438-foot blast to center field by left fielder Joey Gallo in the top of the second inning, a 442-foot monster shot to (very) deep right-center field by first baseman Freddie Freeman in the third inning, and a 381-foot solo shot to right field by third baseman Max Muncy in the top of the seventh. It was Muncy’s fourth home run in his last five games.

Well done, boys!

Play Ball!

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