The scene was familiar, as the Dodgers poured out of their dugout Thursday night in celebration of a National League West title, one they clinched with a 7-2 defeat of the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. However, this accomplishment — the franchise’s 22nd division championship, and 11th in the last 12 years — felt a little different. Even though it came on the same night one of their star players got hurt.
After trailing 2-0 entering the seventh inning, the Dodgers surged to life with a familiarly explosive offensive outburst. Will Smith got the game tied, jumping all over a down-the-middle fastball from Padres starter Joe Musgrove for a two-run homer to center. Shohei Ohtani put the Dodgers in front, sneaking a go-ahead RBI single through the right side of the infield.
Mookie Betts added an exclamation point, slapping a two-run single the other way en route to the Dodgers’ 41st comeback win of the season. Moments later, however, came a moment of grave concern. As he tried to avoid a tag at first base, veteran slugger Freddie Freeman badly rolled his right ankle two steps past the bag.
The eight-time All-Star and former MVP immediately collapsed to the ground in seemingly serious pain. He walked off the field under his own power, but walked gingerly back to the clubhouse as a hush fell upon a sellout crowd. Two innings later, the Dodgers were back to celebrating, cementing their place atop the standings on the night of their NL-leading 41st comeback win of the sea.
