Braves inch ever closer to division clinch

Freddie Freeman hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs, Touki Toussaint pitched into the sixth inning and the NL Eastleading Atlanta Braves snapped a four-game skid with a 7-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday.

It was a big win for Atlanta, which began the day with a 51/2game lead over Philadelphia and opens a four-game home series against the Phillies on Thursday.

Atlanta had previously dropped 14 of 18 at home and has won just one of its past seven series there.

The Braves need any combination of six victories or Philadelphia losses to clinch their first division title since 2013.

St. Louis, which had won three straight, began the day leading Colorado by 11/2 games for the second wild card spot.

RAYS NOT GIVING UP

Tommy Pham homered twice while extending his on-base streak to 21 games and the late-surging Tampa Bay Rays completed a three-game road sweep of the Texas Rangers with a 9-3 victory.

The Rays (85-66), who have won 14 of their 17 games in September and have 11 remaining, entered the day 51/2 games behind Oakland for the AL’S second wild card despite a record that would lead or share the lead in three divisions in baseball. But they are third in the AL East behind the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.

A day after Blake Snell became the majors’ first 20-game winner in two years, the Rays clinched their fourth sweep in nine series since Aug. 20, and their 12th series sweep of the year matched a club record.

CHAPMAN ACTIVATED

Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman has been activated from the disabled list. New York announced the move before the second game of a three-game series against the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox.

Chapman has been out since Aug. 21 with left knee tendinitis.