Max Muncy sparked a five-run rally in the top of the 11th inning as the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their 10th National League West title in the past 11 seasons, defeating the host Seattle Mariners 6-2 Saturday night.
Jason Heyward went 4-for-5 with three doubles for the Dodgers (90-57).
The Mariners (81-67) failed to make up ground on Houston and Texas in the American League West and dropped a half-game behind Toronto in the race for the American League’s third and final wild-card berth. In the AL West race, Seattle is a game behind second-place Texas and 1 1/2 games back of first-place Houston.
With Mookie Betts at second to start the 11th, Mariners reliever Gabe Speier (2-2) struck out Freddie Freeman before intentionally walking Will Smith to set up a potential double play. Muncy spoiled that plan by lining a single to center to score Betts with the go-ahead run.
Isaiah Campbell replaced Speier and walked Amed Rosario to load the bases. Chris Taylor then dropped a two-run single into left-center to make it 4-1. A Heyward single reloaded the bases before Enrique Hernandez dumped a two-out single into shallow right field to score the final two runs.
The Mariners scored a run in the bottom of the inning on an error and a wild pitch.
Dodgers reliever Evan Phillips (2-4) got the victory.
The Dodgers broke the scoreless tie in the top of the 10th. Taylor reached on an infield single, sending pinch runner Rosario to third. With one out, James Outman was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Pinch hitter Kolten Wong, released by the Mariners on Aug. 3, lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to make it 1-0.
The Mariners answered in the bottom of the inning. Jarred Kelenic grounded out to first, sending pinch runner Jose Caballero to third. Josh Rojas hit a one-hopper to third baseman Muncy, catching Caballero in a rundown. Caballero kept it going long enough to allow Rojas to reach second base. Pinch hitter Mike Ford hit a single into center field, scoring the tying run.
Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, making his first start since Sept. 5 because of an ailing left shoulder, pitched four scoreless innings. The left-hander allowed two hits, walked two and struck out four.
Mariners rookie Bryce Miller didn’t allow a run on four hits in 5 1/3 innings. The right-hander walked one and fanned four.
–Field Level Media
