Dodgers and Giants Fight for Playoff Berths. Literally.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants are battling to reach the post season, and while the Dodgers are in and the Giants almost certainly will be in a day or two, the competition between the two West Coast rivals is intense. The Giants and Dodgers opened a three game series in L.A. on September 23rd. The Dodgers won 4-2 on the strength of two home runs by third baseman Justin Turner, but the real fireworks came in the first inning.

Turner led off the bottom of the 1st with a home run off Giants starter Madison Bumgarner. Bumgarner then hit the next batter, Yasiel Puig, with a pitch. One thing led to another, and the benches emptied.

The victory reduced the Dodgers magic number to clinch the N.L. West to one. The Giants are also one win or one Milwaukee loss from clinching the second Wild Card berth.

The Pittsburgh Pirates also clinched a post season berth by beating Atlanta.

While the Pirates have at least a Wild Card, they’re only a game and a half behind N.L Central leader St. Louis. The Pirates have been red hot down the stretch, and we would not be surprised if they slipped past St. Louis and won the division.