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Braves prep for playoffs with rout of Phils

Sep 29, 2013 - 11:49 PM Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Elliot Johnson tallied two hits and five RBI and Evan Gattis smacked a two-run homer in the Atlanta Braves' 12-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in the season finale for both teams.

Gerald Laird was 4-for-4 and scored four runs for Atlanta (96-66), which failed to secure home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs after the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Chicago Cubs.

"I don't know what the value of its is, we're going to have to play a baseball game," Gattis said of the home-field advantage. "We're not really worried where we're at."

The NL East-champion Braves, who won their first division title since 2005, finished with their best record since 2004 when they also tallied 96 wins.

Atlanta will host the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS, which begins Thursday at Turner Field.

Julio Teheran (14-8) surrendered four runs on six hits over five frames to pick up the win.

Erik Kratz belted a three-run homer for Philadelphia (73-89), which dropped nine of its last 11 tilts to close the year to finish with its worst record since 2000.

"It was a tough go the last week," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said.

Zach Miner (0-2) allowed five runs on seven hits and three walks over 2 1/3 frames to take the loss.

The Phillies were 20-22 under Sandberg since he took over for Charlie Manuel, who was fired on Aug. 16.

Gattis' shot came as part of a three-run first and the Braves led 5-0 in the third following an RBI double by Andrelton Simmons and Johnson's sacrifice fly.

Kratz's blast occurred in the Phillies' four-run fourth to get them within 5-4, but Atlanta pulled away after plating two runs in the fifth and added three more in the sixth.

Pinch-hitter Jose Constanza deposited a two-run single into center in the fifth and Johnson's two-run triple highlighted the sixth, which gave the hosts a 10-4 margin.

Cesar Hernandez had an RBI single in the seventh to trim the deficit to 10-5, but Johnson's two-run single in the eighth upped the margin to 12-5.

Game Notes

The Braves were 6-for-11 with runners in scoring position, while Philadelphia was 3-for-7 ... Gattis finished with 21 homers ... Simmons was 3-for-4 and scored three times.