Braves Clinch Playoff Spot In MLB Action

After blowing an almost sure playoff appearance last year with a horrible end to the regular season down the stretch, the Atlanta Braves made sure history did not repeat itself this year.

Freddie Freeman hit a walk off two run homer to lift the Braves to a 4-3 over the Miami Marlins that clinches at least a wild card spot for the team.   The Braves trail NL East leading Washington by four games after the Nationals lost 6-3 to Philadelphia.

In other NL news, St.Louis comes closer to a wild card spot by beating Houston 4-0, the tenth straight win by the Cardinals over the Astros.   St.Louis leads Los Angeles now by four games for the second wild card after the Dodgers lost 2-1 to San Diego.

In the American League, Detroit has pulled even with the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central; the Tigers beat Kansas City 2-0 while Chicago lost 4-3 to Cleveland.   New York stays a game and a half up on Baltimore in the AL East after both teams lost; the Yanks lose 5-4 at Minnesota while the O’s lose at home to Toronto 4-0.

Oakland beats Texas 3-2 and Los Angeles nips Seattle 5-4 to tighten the AL West and the wild card race.   Texas leads Oakland by four games in the AL West while the A’s trail Baltimore by a half game in the wild card race.

Tampa Bay is five games back of New York in the AL East after beating Boston 5-2 and the Rays are three games back in the wild card race as well.