Los Angeles Dodgers clinch National League West title

August 10, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers fans cheer as starting pitcher Zack Greinke (21) walks to the dugout after being relieved in the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

With a 7-6 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday afternoon, the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched the National League West.

The Dodgers made huge moves last season, acquiring pitcher Josh Beckett, outfielder Carl Crawford and first baseman Adrian Gonzalaez (and utility man Nick Punto, too) from the Boston Red Sox. They acquired Hanley Ramirez from the Miami Marlins in July of 2012. However, the moves were a little too little, too late and Dodgers finished eight games behind the eventual World Series winners, the San Francisco Giants, in the west.

In the offseason, the Dodgers made another splash, signing Zack Greinke to a six-year, $147 million deal. Greinke, combined with former Cy Young award winner Clayton Kershaw, has given the Dodgers a fantastic one-two punch.

Obviously, the emergence of outfielder Yasiel Puig has given the Dodgers another huge boost.

Those factors have allowed overcome injuries to Crawford, Ramirez and Matt Kemp, among others, to win the division. Their record of 88-65 is tied for the third-best mark in the NL (Pittsburgh) and they trail the Atlanta Braves by 2.5 games for the top spot in the league.

It is the Dodgers’ first division title since 2009.

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