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ATL@CHC: Kimbrel K's Lake to start the celebration
CHICAGO -- When the season began, the Braves believed Julio Teheran was capable of providing reliable depth at the back end of the bullpen. Six months later, they view him as proven pitcher who could play a significant role during the postseason that awaits them.
Teheran stood tall over six strong innings and Andrelton Simmons hit a pair of home runs that helped the Braves celebrate both a 5-2 win over the Cubs and the clinching of the National League East title on Sunday afternoon at Wrigley Field.
The Braves entered the series finale needing one more win or a Nationals loss to secure their first division title since capturing their 14th straight in 2005. Washington suffered a 4-2 loss to Miami while Atlanta was batting with a two-run advantage in the sixth inning.
Seeking home-field advantage in the NL playoffs, Atlanta is 92-63, while St. Louis, which plays Sunday night, is 91-64.
After Craig Kimbrel produced a scoreless ninth, the Braves rushed on the field to mob their dominant closer and enjoy a celebration that they have been eagerly anticipating over the past week.
While there is more to accomplish, this has been a season to remember for the Braves, who have spent a Major League-high 175 days in first place. There was not much drama surrounding the NL East race as Atlanta has owned a lead of at least eight games dating back to July 24.
Though Teheran certainly knew the potential reward that could follow this start, he appeared unnerved as he scattered four hits and allowed just one run that came courtesy of a pair of first-inning defensive mistakes. The 22-year-old rookie right-hander has compiled a 2.66 ERA in 11 starts since the All-Star break.
Teheran delivered the first of his 91 pitches with the early advantage he received when Freddie Freeman hit Edwin Jackson's first-pitch fastball over the right-field bleachers and onto Sheffield Ave. The two-run, first-inning blast was the first baseman's 23rd homer, six of which have been hit on the first pitch.
After allowing hits to three of the first five batters he faced, Jackson silenced the Braves until Simmons lined a solo home run into the basket above the left-field wall with two outs in the fourth. The dazzling Braves shortstop added a two-run shot off Brooks Raley in the eighth to account for the second multi-homer game of his career. He also went deep twice in Cincinnati on May 6.
Simmons' 17 home runs match Jeff Blauser (1997) for the second-most recorded by a Braves shortstop in a season. Denis Menke hit 20 in 1964 for the Milwaukee Braves.
The power barrage provide more than enough for Teheran, who might have been perfect through four with some help from his defense. Justin Upton's misread with two outs in the first allowedAnthony Rizzo's double to fall in shallow right field. Dioner Navarro followed with a sharp single that second baseman Elliot Johnson did not handle, scoring Rizzo.
Teheran retired the next 10 batters before allowing Brian Bougesevic to begin the fifth with a single. Two batters later, Darwin Barney recorded a gift single when Jason Heyward lost the ball in the bright sun.
This simply set the stage for Teheran to once again show his moxie. With runners at second and third and two outs, Teheran ended an 11-pitch battle against Starlin Castro with a 94-mph fastball that eluded the shortstop's swing.