Kershaw and the Dodgers Clinched NL West after beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-0

Los Angeles Dodgers #22 Clayton Kershaw gave up only two hits against the Arizona Diamondbacks as they clinched the National League West./ Photo by TGSportstv1.

PHOENIX, ARIZ - Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers (98-43) clinched the National League West on Tuesday by beating the Arizona Diamondbacks (66-75) 4-0 at Chase Field.

The Dodgers clinched the National League West in only 141 games, the earliest time in franchise history since the team moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles in 1958.

"You know when you start Spring Training, you start the season, you know you have a talented roster," the Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "But looking into the season, we weren't the defending National League West champions. That was first on our list -- to get the division back in Los Angeles."

Kershaw (8-3) pitched 7.0 innings and gave up only two hits while striking out five batters was the fourth time in his career pitching a game for the National League West Title.

The Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (12-6) pitched 5.0 innings, gave up five hits, three runs, two home runs, and had eight strikeouts.

The Dodgers took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning after Max Muncy got on base and Joey Gallo hit a two-run home run over the center field wall.

Freddie Freeman would give the Dodgers a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning with a solo home run over the right-center field wall.

The Dodgers scored their last run and led 4-0 in the top of the seventh inning after Muncy hit a solo home run over the right-field wall.

The Dodgers are in a great position to secure the top seed in the National League and get an automatic bid into the NL Divisional Series under the new format.

Currently, the Dodgers are in front 15 1/2 games over the NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals and ten games in front of the NL East-leading New York Mets.