Roberts ‘Proud’ of 100-Win Dodgers

For the fourth consecutive full MLB season (2020 notwithstanding), the Los Angeles Dodgers have won at least 100 of their 162 regular season games, having also done so in 2019, 2021, 2022, with their 2023 MLB third best 100-62 record, behind only the National League East Atlanta Braves (104-58) and the American League East Baltimore Orioles (101-61).

What does doing so mean to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who has skippered the storied 160-year franchise since the 2016 season?

“I couldn’t be more proud of these guys,” Roberts told SportsNet LA’s Kirsten Watson after taking two of three from the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park, including Sunday’s regular season finale by a score of 5-2. “To persevere from Day-1, to come together as a team, from everybody. I mean, it’s scouting, player development, front office, it’s coaches, staff, obviously, most importantly, the players, what they’ve done, it’s pretty remarkable.

“And to me, to have the best seat in the house each night to watch these guys go out there and compete, to ultimately win a hundred ball games, that’s quite a feat. And so, we’re gonna enjoy tonight, enjoy the plane ride home, and get ready for the first round of the postseason,” Roberts added.

*“I couldn’t be more proud of these guys.”* – Dave Roberts
**(SportsNet LA)**

Sunday’s 100th season win was the result of a five-run sixth inning that began with an RBI single to center by Dodgers second baseman/shortstop Amed Rosario, followed immediately with an RBI single to center by Dodgers center fielder James Outman, and capped off with a 384-foot three-run home run to left by Dodgers utility infielder/outfielder Kiké Hernández, all of which came with two outs in the inning.

**Kiké’s three-run home run to left field in the top of the sixth inning gave the Dodgers a then 5-0 lead in their eventual 5-2 win over the Giants for their 100th win of the 2023 regular season.**
**(SportsNet LA)**

But Sunday’s regular season finale wasn’t without its typical Dodgers-Giants rivalry tense moments. In his 5.0 innings pitched, Giants starting left-hander Kyle Harrison hit three Dodgers batters, including Dodgers left fielder Chris Taylor on the left knee, eventually forcing him from the game.

**Although Taylor initially remained in the game after being hit on his left knee with an 81.3 mph slurve from Giants left-hander Kyle Harrison, he was removed from the game one inning later.** **(Sportsnet LA)**

“Chris Taylor is good. It was a slider that got him on the outside of the knee,” Roberts told reporters postgame about his decision to remove his extremely popular utility infielder/outfielder. “It was one of those, to what end to keep running him out there? Got David (Peralta) in there, Kolten (Wong) in there. He’ll be fine,” Roberts added of CT3.

The Dodgers now have five full days off before Game-1 of the 2023 National League Division Series against the winners of the best-of-three Wild Card Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Milwaukee Brewers, which begins on Tuesday. Roberts told reporters before Sunday’s regular season finale that Dodgers ace and future Hall of Fame left-hander Clayton Kershaw will be his NLDS Game-1 starter on Saturday.

Play Ball!

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