Dodgers Grab Title, Their First Since ‘88

National League

The Los Angeles Dodgers advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 1988, clinching the N.L. West title Saturday night in San Diego with a 7-2 win over the Padres.

Raul Mondesi, refusing to be sidelined by a knee injury sustained the night before, broke a 1-1 tie in the seventh with a two-run homer off Doug Bochtler (4-4), and Mike Piazza hit a two-run homer the following inning off Dustin Hermanson. Dave Hansen added an RBI double in the ninth and Brett Butler followed with a run-scoring single.

Los Angeles, in first place when the strike ended last season, hadn’t been in the playoffs since 1988. That year, they also clinched the division title in San Diego and went on to beat Oakland in the World Series.

Colorado remained one game behind the Dodgers, but can’t catch them. Even if the teams finish in a tie, the Dodgers would win the division because they won the season series 9-4. If that happened, the Rockies would be the wild card team.

Hideo Nomo (13-6) got out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth and wound up allowing six hits in eight innings with 11 strikeouts. It was the 11th time this season he struck out 10 or more.

Tony Gwynn locked up his sixth N.L. batting crown, going 2 for 4 to raise his average to .368. His closest pursuer, Piazza, went 1 for 3 and remained at .346.

Rockies 9, Giants 8

Denver

Larry Walker and Ellis Burks drove in two runs each as Colorado beat San Francisco and assured the Rockies of at least a one-game playoff for a wild card berth.

“We’re in the driver’s seat,” Walker said. “We win tomorrow and we’re in the playoffs. All it is is a ‘W,’ one simple little letter.”

The Rockies maintained their one-game lead over Houston in the wild card race. The Astros beat Chicago.

Astros 9, Cubs 8

Chicago

Houston kept its wild card hopes alive and eliminated Chicago from the postseason picture, breaking an 8-8 tie on John Cangelosi’s RBI single in the seventh off Mike Perez (2-6).

Mets 8, Braves 4

New York

New York won its fifth in a row - all against playoff teams - scoring six runs in the sixth.

Cardinals 5, Pirates 1

St. Louis

Alan Benes (1-2) picked up his first major-league victory, striking out 10 and coming within one out of a shutout. Jose Oliva and Brian Jordan homered for St. Louis and Danny Sheaffer added a two-run triple.

Phillies 3, Marlins 2

Miami

Heathcliff Slocumb struck out Alex Arias with the bases loaded to end the eighth inning and Philadelphia clinched at least a share of second place in the N.L. East by beating Florida.

The crowd of 39,183 was Florida’s third-largest this season at home. Some tickets for the final series of the year were priced at $1 for adults and 50 cents for children.

Expos 6, Reds 1

Montreal

Kirk Rueter pitched two-hit ball over six innings and Montreal used two Cincinnati errors to score four unearned runs in the first inning as the Expos beat the Reds.

Clearing the bases

St. Louis is preparing for its season finale and perhaps Mike Jorgensen’s last game as manager. General manager Walt Jocketty said he’d probably make a decision next week, and added that Jorgensen could move back to director of player development if he’s not retained as manager. … Someone is bound to take the fall for the Giants’ 1995 demise, and batting coach Bobby Bonds considers himself a potential fall guy. “If the blame is put on me, I can handle it,” Bonds said Friday before the Giants’ game against Colorado.