Braves clinch 5th straight postseason berth
The Atlanta Braves are heading to the postseason for a fifth consecutive season after defeating the Washington Nationals 3-2 on Tuesday.
The Braves didn't partake in any sort of celebration, as they continue to target the Mets for top spot in the National League East.
Asked if the Braves would celebrate a fifth straight playoff berth tonight, Snit said, “No. I’d rather the guys go home and get a good night’s sleep.”
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) September 21, 2022
The defending World Series champions trail the Mets in the NL East by one game.
Atlanta's offense was sparked by Dansby Swanson and Travis d'Arnaud, each of whom hit a home run.
D'Arnaud's two-run homer in the fourth inning put the Braves on top early, but it was Swanson's solo blast in the eighth that wound up being the deciding run.
Charlie Morton struck out nine across 5 1/3 innings to earn his ninth win. Collin McHugh, A.J. Minter, and Kenley Jansen combined to pitch 3 2/3 innings to finish the game.
The Braves also needed the New York Mets to beat the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday to clinch the berth. Atlanta's division rival did exactly that, winning 7-5 thanks to a go-ahead grand slam from Francisco Lindor in the seventh inning.