Braves win 13th straight NL East Title

[wilheim]

ATLANTA (AP) 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 Friday night, winning the NL 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 6½ 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.


wil.

 

[earl]

13 straight titles, truly amazing...........it really is! there is no match for it in pro sports history. congratulations braves and good luck in the playoffs (you're gonna need it). i for one will be rooting for you to win it all.:aktion033

 

[Fishhead]

LOL!..........yeah, and no real championship, as their only World Series win came during the STRIKE SEASON.

 

[TommyMullins]

Ill Never Forget How Stunned I Was In 1991 When It All Started.

 

[Glaken]

Hey Fish, The strike was in 1994, World Series win was in 1995.....:biglaugh:

 

[SportSavant]

Boys, is Florida with Pavano a good play today?

 

[Deeds]

Could be a good play. Braves will rest many players and the others might be a little lethargic after the champagne party.

 

[TommyMullins]

Ive Loved That Angle For Years. Play Against A Team That Clinched A Playoff Spot The Night Before. Especially If Its A Day Game.

 

[REDEYE]

I don't see this current addition of the Braves doing anything in the postseason

 

[Fishhead]

Hey Fish, The strike was in 1994, World Series win was in 1995.....:biglaugh:

:think: HUH?

 

[SportSavant]

that was the year that the XPO's would have certainly won the world series...

I wonder if the XPO's cld have survived had they won the world series that year & there had been no strike?:heh:

 

[earl]

.....yea.....1991.....what a world series......and game 7.....i cried after that game.