Braves clinch first NL East title since 2013

ATLANTA — The Atlanta 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 win 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 celebration as star Freddie Freeman, rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. and the rest of the Braves reveled.

Atlanta make its 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.

The Braves won their fourth straight game and beat second-place Philadelphia for the third day in a row. The Phillies, who led the division in early August, faded while going 6-14 this month.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz works against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018, in Atlanta.

Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr., left, and Ender Inciarte (11) celebrate after scoring on a two-run base hit by Freddie Freeman in the second inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018, in Atlanta.

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