DENVER (AP) — Shohei Ohtani went 1 for 4 and fell short in his bid to become the National League’s first Triple Crown winner since 1937, and stole his 59th base to help the Los Angeles Dodgers rally past the Colorado Rockies 2-1 on Sunday in Charlie Blackmon’s final game.

Ohtani finished the regular season leading the NL in homers (54) and RBIs (130). His .310 average trailed San Diego’s Luis Arráez (.314) in the batting race.

The charter member of the 50-50 club, Ohtani swiped his 59th base during the eighth-inning rally. It could've been his 60th, but on Saturday night a balk was called as he was on his way to easily stealing a base.

“I didn’t think about the Triple Crown or how close I was to it today,” Ohtani said through a translator. "Today, I was focused on having quality at-bats.”

The last NL Triple Crown winner was St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Joe Medwick in 1937. In the AL, Detroit's Miguel Cabrera won the Triple Crown in 2012.

It was a season that succeeded even manager Dave Roberts' wildest expectations.

“There were ways early to get him out – crowding him down below, up – but now, his control of the strike zone has just gone to another level,” Roberts said. "And then the base-stealing, obviously. We’ve never seen that type of efficiency.”

Ohtani finished 59 for 63 on stolen-base attempts, including 36 in a row without getting caught. He's two shy of matching the franchise record by Davey Lopes in 1975.

“The most important part of all this is that I was able to play consistent the whole year,” Ohtani said.

Chris Taylor tied the game in the eighth with his first homer since July 7. Maybe this locked him in: a 12-pitch at-bat in the third that resulted in a walk.

Soon after Taylor's homer, Austin Barnes and Ohtani both singled. Barnes then swiped third as part of a double steal with Ohtani. Rockies reliever Seth Halvorsen appeared to get his cleat caught in the dirt in his delivery and stopped. He was called for a balk to bring home Barnes.

Evan Phillips (5-1) earned the win and Edgardo Henriquez closed out the ninth for his first career save, among 14 Dodgers with saves this season.

The Dodgers wound up a major league-best 98-64, breaking a string of four straight full seasons with 100 or more wins (they went 43-17 during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season). The NL West champions open the Division Series on Saturday and have home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

Sam Hilliard launched a 476-foot shot into the right field third deck to give the Rockies a 1-0 lead in the second, the fourth-longest in the major leagues this season.

Starter Ryan Feltner scattered two hits over six strong innings in a no-decision. Reliever Victor Vodnik (5-4) took the loss.

It was an emotion-filled afternoon for Blackmon, who went 1 or 2 in his 14th and final season — all with the Rockies. The player known for his bushy beard was lifted for a pinch-runner after his single in the third.

“It was really cool to end on a hit," Blackmon said. “One last time getting to savor it on the way out.”

Blackmon was honored in a pregame ceremony and trotted out to center field all alone to soak in the applause. He leaves as the franchise’s all-time leader in triples and second behind Hall of Famer Todd Helton in games played and runs scored.

Plan on keeping the beard?

“Good question,” said Blackmon, who began his career clean shaven.

Colorado (61-101) has back-to-back 100-loss seasons. The team went 59-103 last season. The Rockies saw 2,540,195 fans attend games at Coors Field this season. Last year, the attendance was 2,607,935.

Before the game, Rockies manager Bud Black sidestepped the topic of his expiring contract.

“Thank you for not asking," Black playfully asked.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Dodgers: 1B Freddie Freeman continues to receive treatment on his sore right ankle. “I saw video of him walking. He’s ginger when he’s walking,” manager Dave Roberts said. Roberts is optimistic of a return for Freeman and SS Miguel Rojas (torn adductor) to start the playoffs.

UP NEXT:

Dodgers: A few days off before the NLDS begins Saturday.

Rockies: Open spring training at Arizona on Feb. 21.

Rockies longtime player Charlie Blackmon takes a final curtain call before his retirement

DENVER (AP) — Charlie Blackmon trotted out to center field all alone and stood above the giant No. 19 that was etched into the grass at Coors Field.

The longtime Colorado Rockies player known for his bushy beard tipped his cap to the cheering fans one last time on Sunday before a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

It was Charlie Blackmon Day at the ballpark as the four-time All-Star waved goodbye to the game after 14 seasons with the Rockies, the only team he's ever known. Blackmon was back in a familiar spot on the lineup card, too — starting in center field and batting leadoff. This was the first time he's been in center in six years.

“Literally, the best teammate I’ve ever had,” third baseman Ryan McMahon said. “He's the most unselfish person I’ve been around. The total pro’s pro.”

A second-round draft pick of the Rockies in 2008, Blackmon blossomed into one of just 50 players in major league history to amass more than 1,800 hits, 325 doubles, 225 home runs, 65 triples and 800 RBIs. He was the NL batting champion in 2017 when he hit .331. He leaves as the franchise's leader in triples (68) and second behind Hall of Famer Todd Helton in games (1,624), runs (996), doubles (334) and total bases (2,956).

Blackmon long has been a fan favorite — along with his catchy walk-up song, “Your Love,” by The Outfield, which never failed to get the crowd singing along. Not only that, but his determined play earned respect from dugout to dugout.

“For me, he’s everything I would want in a baseball player — outside of that big, old, ugly beard,” cracked Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, whose playoff-bound team closed out the regular season with a 2-1 win. “You look at the last, call it 10 to 12 years, he’s one of probably my top five players I’ve enjoyed watching play.”

This sunny afternoon was all about Blackmon. His wife, Ashley, and two young kids, Josie and Wyatt, joined him on the field for a pregame ceremony, where he was presented with a plaque. He also received a Toyota truck that had been perched on top of a sign in left field. His kids each threw a pitch to him.

“The organization’s done a really good job, just far exceeded expectations of celebrating the week and the moment,” said Blackmon, who finished his career hitting .293 with 227 homers and 801 RBIs. “It’s just been really incredible for me and my family.”

On the way into the park, a fan held up a sign that read, “Let Chuck pitch.” That didn't happen and wasn't in the plans, manager Bud Black said before the game. He asked Blackmon if he wanted to carry out the lineup card to the umpires, but Blackmon politely declined.

After all, he had a game to get prepare for.

Black did have a emotional meeting with Blackmon in his office before first pitch.

“We hugged,” Black said. “And then we sort of pulled away, and we smiled at each other and said: ‘Hey, I’m going to see you again. This is not it.’”

Blackmon announced his decision to retire last Monday. He's expected to remain with the organization in a non-playing role.

Translation: He will still be around come spring training.

“We'll be like: ‘Hey, Charlie, you’re on field four. You’ve got the outfielders,'" Black joked.

Initially, Blackmon balked at taking the field by himself for the start of the game. He doesn't need — or crave — being the center of attention.

“I go, ‘Chuck, you’re going to run out to center, but everybody’s not going to go out there with you,’” Black recounted. “He goes, ‘How long am I going to be out there by myself?’ I'm like, ‘20, 30 seconds maybe.’ He goes, ‘OK, but not any longer than that."

Blackmon took the field to applause and the playing of “Centerfield” by John Fogerty. His teammates — and the Dodgers — clapped for him on the top rail of the dugout. He played the first inning in center before moving over to right for the second.

“The way I play this game," McMahon said, “it’s all based off things I’ve learned from him.”

Blackmon singled up the middle in the third inning and was subbed out for a pinch runner. He received another ovation from the fans.

“It was really cool to end on a hit,” Blackmon said. “I don’t think you could ever get tired of that feeling of getting a hit. One last time getting to savor it on the way out was really great."