Reds first to clinch MLB division title

CINCINNATI, Ohio (AFP) –

Drew Stubbs of the Cincinnati Reds celebrates a National League Central Division Championship after the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Great American Ball Park, on September 22, in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Reds won 6-0.

The Cincinnati Reds became the first team in Major League Baseball to lock up their division title with a 6-0 rout of the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday.

Pitcher Mat Latos went eight solid innings, Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips both homered as the Reds, 92-60, clinched their second National League Central division title in three years.

“It’s not a shock at all because we’ve been taking care of business here for a while,” Bruce said. “We kind of knew it was coming. We’ve worked really hard this year like we did then (2010). We deserve this and we deserve a lot more. We’re going to go get it.”

Latos, 8-2 in his past 17 starts, surrendered six hits and struck out seven without giving up a walk. Nor did he allow a runner to reach scoring position.

Mat Latos of the Cincinnati Reds delivers the pitch during the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Cincinnati Reds became the first team in Major League Baseball to lock up their division title with a 6-0 rout of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Todd Frazier drove in a run in the fifth inning and Zack Cozart hammered a two-run, bases-loaded single in the eighth.

Reds manager Dusty Baker missed his fourth consecutive game with a heart problem and was unable to join his players in the clubhouse to celebrate the clinching victory.

“If Dusty would have been here it would have been a whole lot better. We miss our manager. He’s like a father figure to me,” Phillips said. “When he gets here, I’m going to save one bottle for him.”

Dodgers pitcher Stephen Fife took the loss, surrendering two runs on five hits over five innings. Fife, 25, is still seeking his first major league victory.

The Dodgers remain in the hunt for the National League’s final wild card spot. But with the loss they fell three games behind the St. Louis Cardinals, who defeated the Chicago Cubs 5-4 earlier on Saturday.