LOS ANGELES — For four months, the sign mocked them. Just to the left of the doorway leading into the players lounge, a plastic blue placard reads: the Road to the World Series starts here.
Really? In the National League West? Was this a typo? Wasn’t it supposed to say the road to nowhere?
Then when the game was over Saturday night, when the champagne sprayed, when the Dodgers broomed the Chicago Cubs with a 3-1 victory, one thing was certain: Los Angeles was officially more punch than punch line.
Long live the 100-year curse; the Cubs, the National League’s regular-season kings, are dead. The Dodgers are one step closer to the World Series, winners of their first playoff series since 1988.
“I don’t like the word ‘surprised.’ We have a good team and we earned this,” said catcher Russell Martin, who guided pitcher Hiroki Kuroda through 6 1/3 shutout innings. “We have good pitching. We are a good team.”
For those in Denver, the sight of the new Blue Man group partying like rock stars to a constant loop of M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes” was no doubt hard to digest. The Dodgers were 54-54 on July 31, part of a division that was comic relief for baseball historians. There was real doubt if the champ would finish with a winning record.
Then everything changed when Dodgers owner Frank McCourt picked up the phone and agreed to sublet Boston’s throbbing headache, Manny Ramirez, for a million bucks. Just like the Rockies were a three-week sensation last fall – victors in 21 of 22 games leading to the World Series – the Dodgers are a two-month team, winning 22 of their last 30 games, including three straight against the gagging Cubs.
The Cubs were outscored 20-6 in getting swept in the first round for the second consecutive year.
“Let me tell you this,” said Cubs manager Lou Piniella. “You can play the postseason between now and another 100 years and if score six runs in a three-game series (in back-to-back seasons) it’s going to be another 100 years before we win.”
When trying to make sense of the Dodgers’ improbable run to the National League Championship Series, where they will play the winner of the Phillies and Brewers, disregard all offensive statistics before Aug. 1.
Pre-Ramirez, the Dodgers’ lineup was bad, and worse, boring. The Dodgers hit .256 and scored 4.2 runs per game. With Ramirez in the lineup, Los Angeles has hit .280 and scored 4.7 runs.
“The sky is the limit, you never know what is going to happen,” said Ramirez, who celebrated quietly in the hallway for several minutes, drinking Zico passion fruit punch. “I don’t harm nobody, I respect everybody. That’s why God keeps blessing me.”
The Cubs finally wised up and stopped pitching to Ramirez, twice intentionally walking him Saturday. But not before he was at the epicenter of a crucial first-inning rally. He singled to left field, just beyond the reach of diving shortstop Ryan Theriot. Russell Martin hesitated at second base, then took off. Alfonso Soriano made a perfect throw, Aramis Ramirez tagged Martin on the left elbow, and was inexplicably called safe.
In unison, Soriano, Ramirez and Theriot collapsed to the ground in disgust. If one play symbolized the sweep, this was it. Even when they did everything right – something that rarely happened in this series – they still couldn’t get an out.
Predictably, James Loney punished the Cubs seconds later, lacing a two-run double to right field, scoring Martin and Ramirez, who was ushered home by exuberant third-base coach Larry Bowa.
Bowa nearly touched the plate with Ramirez and jumped into the air when he slid in safely.
“He beat me there,” said Ramirez with a laugh.
Three weeks ago, Bowa was sitting in the visitors’ dugout at Coors Field, scowling at those who suggested that the Dodgers were a lock for the playoffs.
When the game was over, even Bowa let out a grin.
How could he not? No one is laughing at the Dodgers anymore.
“You get into the playoffs and there’s no such thing as a favorite,” said Dodgers third baseman Casey Blake. “We have shown that.”
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
