Braves bop Phillies to nab NL East title
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 yesterday in a 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in Atlanta.
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, setting off a big celebration on the field.
All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman and the Braves will make their first postseason appearance since 2013 on Oct. 4 in the NL 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 fourth straight game and beat second-place Philadelphia for the third day in a row. The Phillies also startled a lot of fans this year and led the division in early August, but faded while going 6-14 this month.
Foltynewicz (12-10) tipped his cap to a standing ovation as he left with runners on first and second in the eighth with a 4-0 lead.
Jesse Biddle relieved, walked the first batter he faced and gave up two runs on Cesar Hernadez’ bases-loaded single. Brad Brach allowed Rhys Hoskins’ RBI single before Jonny Venters escaped the jam.
Kurt Suzuki added an RBI single to make it 5-3 in the eighth off Seranthony Dominguez.
Foltynewicz didn’t permit a hit until Odubel Herrera singled to begin the seventh.
Cardinals 5, Giants 4 — 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.
Yadier Molina also homered for the Cards, who began the day 11⁄2 games ahead of Colorado for the second NL wild card spot.
Pirates 3, Brewers 0 — Trevor Williams combined with three relievers on a five-hitter as host Pittsburgh slowed Milwaukee’s playoff push.
Nationals 6, Mets 0 — Rookie Austin Voth and four relievers combined on a one-hitter and host Washington blanked New York, hours after the Nats were officially eliminated from playoff contention.
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.
American League
Yankees 3, Orioles 2 — Aaron Hicks doubled home the winning run in the 11th inning, and host New York clinched an AL wild card with a win over Baltimore.
Rookie manager Aaron Boone will lead the Yankees into the winner-take-all Oct. 3 wild card game, most likely against Oakland. The Yankees began the day 11⁄2 games ahead of the Athletics for home-field advantage and are 53-27 at home this season.
Blue Jays 5, Rays 2 — Rookie left-hander Thomas Pannone pitched 62⁄3 innings to win his third straight start, Rowdy Tellez homered and drove in three and host Toronto topped Tampa Bay, dealing another blow to the Rays’ faint playoff hopes.
Tigers 5, Royals 4 — Mikie Mahtook hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning, and host Detroit edged Kansas City in Victor Martinez’ final major league game.
Interleague
Cubs 8, White Sox 3 — Javier Baez homered and the Cubs drilled the host White Sox to increase their lead in the NL Central.