Teams book their place in the playoffs but not before some late hiccups.
The Atlanta Braves and Oakland A’s clinched division titles but both teams needed a little help to get the job done.
Atlanta claimed their first National League East title since 2005 and Oakland wrapped up their second straight American League West crown as Major League Baseball inched closer to the October playoffs.
The Braves headed into Sunday’s action with a magic number of one to wrap up the division crown.
Atlanta beat the Chicago Cubs 5-2 but they won the division before the victory due to Washington losing to Miami in the first game of a doubleheader.
Oakland’s Coco Crisp meanwhile clubbed a three-run homer, and Daric Barton and Jed Lowrie each added a solo shot as the A’s overpowered the Minnesota Twins, 11-7.
In Chicago, Andrelton Simmons hit a pair of homers for the Braves, who took two of three from the Cubs.
Atlanta starter Julio Teheran allowed one run on four hits while striking out seven over six innings.
Starlin Castro and Dioner Navarro had an RBI apiece for the Cubs, who saw starter Edwin Jackson surrender three runs on eight hits over six-plus innings.
Freddie Freeman hit a two-run homer to get the Braves going in the first inning. The Cubs then got one run back in the bottom half. Simmons’ solo homer to left in the fourth made it a 3-1 contest.
Simmons hit his second homer, a two-run shot, in the eighth. Brian McCann hit a one-out infield single and scored on Simmons’ blast to left-center field.
The A’s clinched their 16th division crown and 25th playoff appearance when the Texas Rangers lost 4-0 at Kansas City during the game.
Sonny Gray gave up four runs and seven hits in five innings for Oakland, but he got solid offense from his teammates.
Eric Sogard swatted two hits, had two runs scored and drove in two for the Athletics, who received solo homers from Barton and Lowrie en route to a series sweep.
The A’s scored six runs in the second inning and one in each of the next five to set the stage for their celebration.
Oswaldo Arcia homered and drove in six runs for Minnesota.
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