The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Braves celebrate division title
Exactly five years ago, the Braves celebrated their last division title before soon embarking on baseball’s latest trend: a complete teardown. One done with the promise of sustainable success, done in hope of recapturing the mystique of the 1990s and devising a roster with embraceable talents and well-renowned flair.
Mission accomplished. The Braves are National League East champions. The cupboard is stacked. The financial flexibility is existent. The standard is set. The new glory days have begun.
The Braves clinched their 18th division title with a 5-3 win over the Phillies on Saturday. They were presented the opportunity to take the division themselves and defeated the Phillies three consecutive games to end the division race.
“This means everything,” said manager Brian Snitker while fighting off tears. “You know, you kind of sit back and wonder what this is going to feel like. When I was here as the third base coach, we won the division, the wild card. It’s great. You wonder as a manager how it’ll feel. It’s even better than I anticipated.”
Mike Foltynewicz took his throne as the Braves ace. He carried a no-hitter into the seventh before Odubel Herrera singled. He exited with two on and one out in the eighth to a resounding SunTrust Park ovation, to which he tipped his cap. The All-Star’s growth, especially mentally, has been paramount in the team’s turnaround.
“It’s pretty special to do it with this group of guys,” Foltynewicz said. “To do it in front of the home crowd like that is something special.”
Starter Jake Arrieta, the Phillies’ high-priced freeagent acquisition, couldn’t find the strike zone until pitch No. 9. Ronald Acuna stole second after his leadoff walk. Johan Camargo swatted one past the shortstop to score Acuna and Inciarte.
The story of the Braves’ 2018 season cannot be told without Camargo’s narrative. After exceeding hopes a year ago, he had to compete for his third base job. An injury landed him on the disabled list to start the season. He backed up Ryan Flaherty and Jose Bautista until late May.
Camargo wasn’t glorified as a prospect. In a system rich with blossoming youth, his work positioned him for a starting job. He’s hit .351 (39 for 111) with 11 doubles, six homers and 60 RBIs with runners in scoring position.
But the win wasn’t meant to be easy. Jesse Biddle was unable to strand Foltynewicz’s runners, as Snitker required three relievers to narrowly escape the eighth, when a 4-0 lead had dwindled to a run.
The Phillies’ poor defense helped the Braves get a run back. Adam Morgan couldn’t pick up an Inciarte grounder, then threw past first to advance him. He scored on Kurt Suzuki’s two-out single.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy in my life,” Inciarte said. “It’s a very emotional day for everybody.”
Perhaps the jubilation is better for no one than Freddie Freeman, who’s waited patiently through endless roster changes, a managerial move, a new front office and a new stadium. He never pouted or sought a trade. He endured loss after loss, in the midst of his prime, on the premise that it’d turn sooner than later.
He had his chance in the second inning. Acuna and Inciarte reached on two-out singles. Freeman bopped one over the second base, scoring both.
“One hundred percent (this feels sweeter),” Freeman said. “I came in when we were winning, gone through four straight losing seasons, three 90-loss seasons. To win the division this year, it’s hard to put into words. It’s taken every guy in this clubhouse to win games this year.”
Arrieta lasted two innings, the shortest outing of the Cy Young winner’s career. The Braves could’ve entered the Arrieta (or other starters) sweepstakes. They opted for patience.
They were rewarded a division title, with plenty of room to maneuver after the postseason. They banked on internal growth, figuring their players would show them who they were in an assessment season.
A postseason berth wasn’t supposed to be part of that assessment. But their players proving who they are, and why they belong, made it so. The kids are no longer prospects. They still don’t know the magnitude of what they’ve accomplished.