Atlanta Braves clinch NL East with 5-3 win over the Phillies

The Atlanta Braves did it! They’re the National League East champions after clinching behind a strong performance by Mike Foltynewicz!

The Atlanta Braves are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2013.  That year also marked their last division title.  Doing it on the same day today, they beat the Phillies 5-3 behind an outstanding start from Mike Foltynewicz.

Foltynewicz went 7 innings while throwing a no-hitter for 6 innings before giving up a hit to Odubel Herrera early in the 7th. He came out again for the 8th before getting into some trouble in  before manager Brian Snitker took him out of the game on a hot day.

However, “dominant” would be the word to describe how Foltynewicz started the game. He struck out lead-off hitter, Cesar Hernandez on 3 pitches before getting a pop-up and fly-out to end the inning, doing it on just 6 pitches.

That would be the theme for the next 6 innings as Foltynewicz was charged with 2 earned runs (both scoring after his departure) on only 2 hits during his outing. Just look at this:

https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1043574657419501569

The Braves offense backed him up early as well, also in the first inning. Ronald Acuña Jr. led off with a 4-pitch walk off Jake Arrieta and then easily stole second. Next, Ender Inciarte also drew a 4-pitch walk before the Phillies pitching coach came out to talk to Arrieta.

Apparently this did the job, temporarily, as he struck out Freddie Freeman on a nasty slider, but Arrieta went back to having trouble, however, as he gave up ANOTHER 4-pitch walk to Nick Markakis to load the bases for Johan Camargo.

Camargo then drove home two runs via a single to left and Acuña and Inciarte were fired up.  2-0 Atlanta quickly.

The next inning, with 2 outs, Acuña and Inciarte landed back-to-back singles. With runners at 2nd and 3rd after Inciarte stole a base, Freeman knocked them in with a single to give the Braves a 4-0 lead.

Phillies Wouldn’t Go Down Easy

However, the win didn’t come without typical high-stress anxiety from the club. After Foltynewicz left the game in the 8th with 2 on, Jesse Biddle came in to face 2 guys and got neither one of them out.

Biddle walked the first batter, Jose Bautista, to load the bases. Then he gave up a RBI single to  Hernandez which gave the Phillies 2 runs.  Snitker took him out for Brad Brach and it wasn’t much of a solution. Brach faced Rhys Hoskins and gave up a single to him to make it a one-run game.

Snitker then made another pitching change, this time Jonny Venters who got Aaron Altherr to line out before Carlos Santana grounded to short. 4-3 now.  Anyone have gray hair yet?

Can’t Stop The Braves

In the 9th, the Braves were looking to have some insurance runs and did just that. Inciarte led off with a liner that hit the pitcher, Adam Morgan, who then dropped the ball and eventually left the game.

Later with two outs, Camargo got an intentional walk which put runners at 1st and 3rd for Kurt Suzuki. On the first pitch, Suzuki smacked one to left to score Inciarte.

Arodys Vizcaino came out for the save, something we haven’t seen in a LONG time, and did a good job. Wilson Ramos grounded out on the first pitch, then Vizcaino struck out Roman Quinn before Maikel Franco flied out to Acuña.

Braves win and clinch the NL East!

Your 2018 NL East Champions will look to sweep the Phillies tomorrow behind Anibal Sanchez at 1:35 PM. It’s a good day everyone, for the first time since 2013, our team is in the playoffs!