Although each of the 12 home runs that 23-year-old Dodgers rookie outfielder Andy Pages has hit during the 2024 regular (with three games remaining) have been important and memorable for the extremely popular La Habana, Cuba native, it is impossible to argue that his monster eighth-inning 428-foot two-run blast down the left field line to put Thursday’s division-clinching 7-4 Dodgers win over the San Diego Padres on (champagne) ice was his most important and most memorable … so far.

The same can be said for 29-year-old Dodgers catcher Will Smith‘s 20th home run of the season, a 426-foot two-run shot to center an inning earlier, to (then) tie the game at 2-2.

But who would have guessed that it would be a simple single to right by 30-year-old Dodgers international superstar Shohei Ohtani that would drive in the Dodgers game-winning third run to make it a (then) 3-2 ballgame? Ok, probably everybody.

With the win, the Dodgers captured their 11th NL West title in the last 12 years.

“I couldn’t be more proud of these guys … we checked box number one,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told SportsNet LA’s Kirsten Watson postgame. “Long way to go, but we’re going to celebrate tonight. All the adversity we’ve been through, just grinding and willing ourselves to victory. So proud of these guys,” Roberts later added.

Yes, the pen (a single) is mightier than the sword (a home run).

Play Ball!

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