Braves 5 - 2 Cubs
Final
  for this game

Braves clinch NL East, defeat Cubs

Sep 23, 2013 - 1:17 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - The Atlanta Braves claimed their first NL East title since 2005 on Sunday.

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 falling to Miami in the first game of a doubleheader.

Andrelton Simmons hit a pair of homers for the Braves, who took two of three from the Cubs. Freddie Freeman also homered.

"To be honest, I don't even remember what happened in the game," Simmons said. "I know we won the division and that is all that is on my mind right now."

Atlanta starter Julio Teheran (13-8) 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 (8-17) give up three runs on eight hits over six-plus innings.

"I thought Jackson, it was one of the better games he's pitched, actually," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said of his starter.

Freeman hit a two-run homer in the first inning. Jason Heyward led off with a single and scored on Freeman's homer to right.

The Cubs got one run back in the bottom half. Anthony Rizzo hit a two-out double and raced home on Navarro's single to right.

Simmons' solo homer to left in the fourth made it a 3-1 contest.

Teheran retired 10 straight batters before giving up a leadoff single to Brian Bogusevic in the fifth. The Cubs put men on second and third with two outs, but Castro struck out swinging to end the inning.

Simmons hit a two-run homer in the eighth. Brian McCann hit a one-out infield single and scored on Simmons' blast to left-center field.

Chicago plated a run in the bottom half when Castro grounded into a fielder's choice.

Craig Kimbrel tossed a scoreless ninth to pick up his major league-best 49th save.

Game Notes

Atlanta went 5-1 against the Cubs this season ... Jackson fell to 1-6 over his last nine trips to the hill ... Freeman had three of Atlanta's 12 hits.






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