On November 5, 2007, the Los Angeles Dodgers hired Bowa to be the team's third base coach, following the hire of new manager Joe Torre, under whom Bowa had served with the Yankees. Torre became the seventh manager to have Bowa on his staff as third base coach, following Lee Elia, John Vukovich, Nick Leyva, Jim Fregosi, Terry Collins, and Lou Piniella. The Dodgers won consecutive National League West titles in 2008 and 2009, but in both seasons were eliminated in five games in the NLCS by the Phillies, managed by Bowa's permanent successor in Philadelphia, Charlie Manuel.