For most within the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, Tuesday's NL West clinching 8-0 shutout over the rival San Francisco Giants was a formality.
Los Angeles led the division nearly wire-to-wire, and after a three-game sweep of San Francisco at Dodger Stadium in August, it was only a matter of time before the team took care of business.
The team that calls Hollywood their home is never one to shy away from the theatrics or the drama, and the Dodgers definitely teetered on the edge of nervousness, losing eight of their last 10 games, and needing to win one game in AT&T Park, a place they were 0-7 at entering into Tuesday's game.
It took longer than most expected, but the Dodgers did finally punch their ticket to the postseason, winning a franchise record third consecutive NL West division title in the process.
With the grind of a 162-game season nearing the end, Tuesday night's postgame celebration in the visiting locker room of their most heated rival was a time to rejoice, relax, and ready themselves for the playoffs which start next week.
Here's what some of the players had to say after the game in between champagne showers and Budweiser baths:
Dodgers' Manager Don Mattingly:
"It takes a lot of perseverance to win. There's a lot of guys who have gotten knocked out the past two years, hopefully we're able to have a little bit of luck and play great baseball."
Veteran Shortstop Jimmy Rollins:
"This is only the beginning of why I wanted to come here. Our objective is to win a championship and to be the last team standing on the field. I was fortunate enough to play for a team that went all the way to the top. If you win the World Series, people stop questioning you. Only one team wins, so you have to say, 'Why not us?'"
Andre Ethier:
"It never gets old. It takes a lot to win a division in a season with 162 games. The only part that gets old is not winning the World Series. Hopefully, this is the year. We believe in it."
Adrian Gonzalez:
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"We have veteran leadership and a lot of guys that play hard, this is the best team we've had going into the postseason."
A.J. Ellis:
"It's been a roller coaster year. We were able to finish when we needed to. For a lot of us in this room its three in a row which is really special. The first team in Dodgers' history to be able to do it."
Kiké Hernandez:
"I wish I could explain it in words. When I first came up to the big leagues I wanted to be a guy that helps a team win. To be able to come back from my injury and contribute to clinching the playoffs means a lot. It's literally what I've been waiting for my whole life. It's an unreal feeling right now."
Reigning NL Cy Young and MVP Award Winner Clayton Kershaw:
"This is a huge first step. Third division title in three years is pretty special, but at the same time, it's a start. We have a veteran group with a lot of young talent. It's a fun and talented mix, and hopefully it's the right mix. We have one month to put the pedal to the metal. Celebrate today, and tomorrow everything changes."
