Still beast of East -- Braves beat Phils for 6th straight division title - ESPN

PHILADELPHIA — Crammed into the visitor's clubhouse, the Atlanta Braves puffed on their championship cigars, showered each other with bubbly, shot-gunned beers and danced in alcohol puddles — until the music briefly paused.

«Turn the music up! Some people want to party!» shouted reliever Kirby Yates.

On his command, the music was cranked to max volume and the NL East title celebration resumed. Yates was the one who closed another division title, so he got to call the shots in the locker room.

As he surveyed the jubilation around him, and ran his fingers through hair matted by booze, Yates knew there was nowhere else he wanted to be.

«So far,» he said, «it's the best part about being a baseball player.»

It's just what the Braves do this time of year.

The Braves clinched their sixth straight NL East title, beating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 on Wednesday night behind Spencer Strider's major league-leading 17th win and Austin Riley's two-run homer.

«Now the real party starts,» Strider said.

Yates struck out Brandon Marsh to end the game and the players danced in a mob near the mound as Phillies fans booed them off the field.

«Congratulations Atlanta Braves 2023 NL East Champions» flashed on the scoreboard.

Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. responded to booing fans by raising both arms and signaling with his hands to bring it on.

«We've checked one box,» manager Brian Snitker said.

Atlanta (96-50) clinched in 146 games, its second-quickest clinch in the divisional era. The division title was the Braves' record 26th, two more than the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees. The division title was the Braves' 23rd in the divisional era (since 1969), the most by any team, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

The Braves have