Dodgers' bullpen loses control again in loss to Giants

As postseason looms, vibe in home finale is less 'Good-bye,' more 'we'll be right back.'

- KEVIN BAXTER

THE GIANTS' Christian Koss (50) slides under the tag of shortstop Mookie Betts for a double on Sunday.

Half-full duffel bags littered the floor of the Dodgers' clubhouse Sunday morning while a neat line of suitcases stood just outside the locker room door.

Sunday’s 3-1 matinee loss to the San Francisco Giants, a game which featured another late-inning bullpen meltdown, was the last chance to see the Dodgers at home during the regular season and 46,601 fans brought tickets to celebrate the occasion, pushing the team’s attendance over 4 million for the first time.

But the vibe wasn’t so much “goodbye” as it was “we'll be right back,” since the team and its fans are expected to return to Dodger Stadium to open the National League playoffs next week. Even the retiring Clayton Kershaw made that point when he briefly addressed the crowd before the game.

“Remember, we've got another month left,” he said. “So we'll see you at the end of October.”

That may be a bit ambitious. But barring disaster — never count out the Dodgers’ bullpen — the team is guaranteed at least two more games at home this season. The Dodgers will hit the road Monday for their final six games of the regular season with a magic number of three, meaning any combination of Dodger wins or Padres losses totaling four will give the team its 12th West Division title in 13 years — and the Dodger Stadium playoff dates that go with it.