Colorado 3 at LA Dodgers 4 - Recap

LOS ANGELES -- Charlie Culberson hit a solo home run in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Los Angeles Dodgers the National League West championship with a 4-3 win over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday in front of 51,962 at Dodger Stadium.

Reliever Joe Blanton (7-2) earned the victory that gave the Dodgers their fourth successive division title.

With two out in the bottom of the 10th, Culberson hit a 91-mph fastball from Boone Logan (2-5) into the stands down the left-field line for his first home run of the season and the sixth career.

The game not only marked the end of the Dodgers' regular-season home schedule, it culminated a weekend of festivities honoring Vin Scully. The Hall of Fame broadcaster called his final game at Dodger Stadium. Scully said he would not broadcast any of the team's postseason games.

Before the game, fans chanted one of Scully's signature phrases, "It's time for Dodger baseball," in unison with a recording of his voice and gave him a standing ovation. Scully responded by waving and putting his right hand over his heart while a banner draped over the edge of his booth proclaimed, "I'll miss you - Vin."

During the game, each of the first eight Dodger batters tipped his helmet in Scully's direction before stepping into the batter's box. Groundskeepers had stenciled "Vin," with a microphone representing the "i," in foul territory near the baselines and on the back of the pitcher's mound. Fans chanted "Vin, Vin" during a pitching change in the sixth inning and after singing along with his recording of "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" during the seventh-inning stretch.

The Rockies took a 3-2 lead with two out in the top of the ninth inning, when David Dahl sent a 97-mph fastball from closer Kenley Jansen over the right-field fence for a solo drive representing his seventh home run this season.

But the Dodgers retaliated with two out in the bottom of the ninth on Corey Seager's 26th homer. Seager propelled Adam Ottavino's 90-mph fastball on a 2-0 count deep into the first level of the stands down the right-field line.

The Dodgers had the first opportunity to score after putting runners in scoring position in the second. Adrian Gonzalez dumped a single over third baseman Nolan Arenado's head, and Carlos Ruiz followed with a double down the left-field line. But left-hander Tyler Anderson defused the threat by getting Enrique Hernandez to ground out, striking out Culberson and inducing a groundout from Brandon McCarthy.

The Rockies took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third. Cristhian Adames lined a single into left field, then came home when Dustin Garneau hit a double past diving third baseman Justin Turner and down the left-field line. Garneau moved to third base on Anderson's sacrifice bunt and scored on Charlie Blackmon's sacrifice fly. Left fielder Howie Kendrick made a diving backhanded catch on his knees on Blackmon's sinking fly ball.

Los Angeles narrowed the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the third. Kendrick singled to left, took third base on Turner's double into the left-field corner and scored on Yasiel Puig's sacrifice fly. The hosts had a chance to move ahead in the fifth by putting runners in scoring position with two out, but Ruiz popped out to end the inning.

The Dodgers tied the score in the seventh when Seager's triple down the right-field line brought home Turner, who singled with one out. But left-hander Chris Rusin relieved Anderson, struck out Puig and made Gonzalez ground out to keep Seager at third base.

Anderson allowed 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings but held Los Angeles to two runs while issuing two walks, recording one strikeout and inducing 11 groundouts.

McCarthy was activated from the disabled list and made his first start for Los Angeles since Aug. 13. The 10-year veteran conceded two runs, four hits and a walk while collecting six strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. A stiff right hip put McCarthy on the disabled list last month.

NOTES: Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully will call three more games this season, the Dodgers' final series in San Francisco, before retiring. Scully said previously he will not call any of the Dodgers' postseason games. ... Colorado 2B D.J. LeMahieu seeks to become the third member of the team to win a batting championship in the past four seasons, following OF Michael Cuddyer in 2013 and 1B Justin Morneau in 2014. ... Former Rockies OF Dante Bichette's two sons, Dante Jr. and Bo, played for Brazil in qualifying for the World Baseball Classic. Brazil was eliminated Saturday. ... The Rockies' loss Saturday night ensured the club's sixth consecutive losing season. ... Los Angeles activated RHP Brandon McCarthy from the disabled list to pitch Sunday. ... The Dodgers' bullpen leads the major leagues with a 3.22 earned-run average.