Braves top Phillies, win 1st NL East title since ’13
BRAVES 5, PHILLIES 3
ATLANTA — Freddie Freeman stood soaked in champagne with music blaring and his teammates jamming in celebration.
This was just how the longtime star first baseman envisioned it when the Atlanta Braves began spring training seven months ago.
“You could tell after the first week of workouts that we had the talent to do something special,” Freeman said. “Obviously we still needed to put it together. But this is what happens. You win the division after three straight 90-loss seasons.”
The Braves capped a most surprising season by clinching their first NL East crown since 2013, with Mike Foltynewicz taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning Saturday in a 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.
A year after going 70-92, Manager Brian Snitker and his Baby Braves surged back into the playoffs. A loud crowd at SunTrust Park joined the party when rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. caught a flyball for the final out.
“When we started this series, we knew it was within our grasp,” Snitker said. “We knew we couldn’t lose track of today. I know I’m redundant saying that all the time, but I felt we just needed to stay current and worry about today’s game.”
The Braves will make their first postseason appearance since 2013 on Oct. 4 in the National League Division Series.
It has not yet been determined who or where the youth-filled club will play in the best-of-five round. Atlanta won its 18th division title, tying the New York Yankees for the most in the majors since division play began in 1969.
CARDINALS 5, GIANTS 4 (10) Tyler O’Neill hit a solo home run with two outs in the 10th inning and host St. Louis held its playoff position, rallying past San Francisco.
NATIONALS 6, METS 0 Rookie Austin Voth and four relievers combined on a one-hitter and Washington defeated visiting New York.
PIRATES 3, BREWERS 0 Milwaukee’s offense was stymied when Trevor Williams combined with three relievers on a five-hitter that led host Pittsburgh to a victory.
MARLINS 5, REDS 1 Austin Dean homered and drove in three runs, and five Miami pitchers combined on a six-hitter to beat visiting Cincinnati.
ROCKIES 5, DIAMONDBACKS 1 Antonio Senzatela allowed three hits in seven strong innings and Colorado beat host Arizona.
DODGERS 7, PADRES 2 Manny Machado slugged a three-run home run on his bobblehead night to highlight a five-run third inning, and Los Angeles defeated visiting San Diego.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
YANKEES 3, ORIOLES 2 (11) Aaron Hicks doubled home the winning run in the 11th inning, and host New York clinched an AL wild card with a victory over Baltimore.
BLUE JAYS 5, RAYS 2 Rookie left-hander Thomas Pannone pitched 62/3 innings to win his third consecutive start and Toronto beat visiting Tampa Bay.
TIGERS 5, ROYALS 4 Mikie Mahtook hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning, and host Detroit beat Kansas City in Victor Martinez’s final major league game.
INDIANS 5, RED SOX 4 (11) Michael Brantley singled in the winning run in the 11th inning, and Cleveland beat visiting Boston.
ASTROS 10, ANGELS 5 Justin Verlander struck out 11 in six dominant innings and host Houston rallied for a victory over Los Angeles.
MARINERS 13, RANGERS 0 Robinson Cano broke a scoreless tie with a three-run home run in the fifth inning while Marco Gonzales allowed one hit over six innings, but Seattle was eliminated from postseason contention despite a rout of Texas. ATHLETICS 3, TWINS 2 Stephen Piscotty scored on Trevor Hildenberger’s wild pitch in the ninth inning, and Oakland cut its magic number to clinch a playoff berth to one with its second consecutive walk-off victory over Minnesota.
INTERLEAGUE
CUBS 8, WHITE SOX 3 Javier Baez homered and the Chicago Cubs took advantage of huge mistake by Ryan LaMarre, beating the crosstown White Sox to increase their lead in the NL Central.