Major League Baseball
NL notebook: Braves clinch 13th consecutive division crown

E-mail this article Print this article Search archive Most read articles Most e-mailed articles

The cigars were bigger than ever, the champagne and beer just as cold.

The scene in the joyous Atlanta Braves clubhouse showed that winning never gets old.

The Braves clinched their 13th consecutive division title last night, winning the National League East with an 8-7 comeback victory over the Florida Marlins.

Afterward, a smiling and soaked Chipper Jones sat slumped on a table and tried to put the record run into perspective.

"Besides my first one, this one is definitely the most special to me," said Jones, a rookie on the Braves' 1995 World Series championship team.

Picked to finish behind Philadelphia and Florida by many before the season, the Braves were six games under .500 and 6-1/2 games out of first place on June 23. They are 58-26 since, leaving the Marlins and Phillies to fight for second place.

"They shouldn't have picked against us," Jones said.

Marcus Giles' go-ahead single capped Atlanta's three-run rally in the eighth inning, and John Smoltz fittingly closed it out for his 41st save in 46 chances. Smoltz is the only Braves player to be a member of all 13 division championship teams.

Even so, he was almost overcome by the comeback that suddenly thrust him into the save situation.

"Everything happened in a hurry, it was unbelievable," Smoltz said.
 
"I was just trying to get three outs any way I could. I felt like a rookie who didn't know where he was but should have been the most calm."

Atlanta's incredible streak began with the 1991 NL West title and excludes the 1994 strike-shortened season. But the Braves have only one World Series ring to show for it, that 1995 victory over Cleveland.

Chicago: SS Nomar Garciaparra said he's not following the Red Sox's pennant drive. "I have friends (on Boston) and everything, but I'm not checking the score," he said. "No, I'm a Chicago Cub. I'm focused on the uniform I'm wearing now. I love the uniform I'm wearing."

Colorado: The Rockies released LHP Jeff Fassero, an ex-Mariner, after he and manager Clint Hurdle disagreed about his ability to start against St. Louis this weekend. Fassero was scheduled to start tomorrow, and it would've been his first appearance since Sept. 13. When he found out he was starting, Fassero said he needed to get some work in relief before he made the start. "I need to get in and face live competition in the next two days or they need to do something else," he said.

Houston: 2B Jeff Kent (two games) and reliever Dan Wheeler (three games) began serving their suspensions.

New York: INFs Jose Reyes (leg) and Kaz Matsui (back) were activated from the disabled list.

Pittsburgh: The team announced that the organization had retained manager Lloyd McClendon and all of his staff. In April, McClendon signed a contract extension through the 2005 season with a club option for 2006.

St. Louis: An appeal did little to help reliever Julian Tavarez, who was suspended for eight days for applying a foreign substance to balls while pitching last month. The penalty, which began yesterday, was reduced by two games after the appeal.

Seattle Times news services