Braves clinch NL East crown with narrow win at Marlins

Jake Odorizzi pitched five strong innings and the Atlanta bullpen finished with four scoreless frames to help the visiting Braves beat the Miami Marlins 2-1 on Tuesday and clinch their fifth straight N.L. East Division championship. Kenley Jansen retired the side in order in the ninth inning, striking out two, to post his league-leading 41st save. Jordan Groshans flew out to end the game. It was the 22nd division title for the Braves (101-60), the most in major league history. The defending world champions were 10 1/2 games behind the New York Mets on May 1 before winning 77 of their final 110 games. The Marlins dropped to 68-93. Atlanta pitching coach Rick Kranitz lit a cigar near the pitchers' mound in celebration. The one-time longshots to win the division had done it, and won the National League East title for the fifth-consecutive season. Atlanta pushed across the go-ahead run in the fifth inning when Travis d'Arnaud doubled, went to third on a grounder to first and scored on a swinging bunt from William Contreras. Odorizzi (6-6) worked five innings and allowed one run on two hits, one walk and matched his Atlanta season high with seven strikeouts. He retired 10 of the last 11 batters he faced. Collin McHugh worked a scoreless sixth inning, Raisel Iglesias struck out the side in the seven and A.J. Minter got out bases-loaded trouble in the eighth when pinch-hitter Nick Fortes popped out. Miami starter Braxton Garrett (3-7) pitched 4 2/3 innings and allowed two runs on six hits, five walks and seven strikeouts. The Marlins bullpen was unscored upon for the second straight night. Huascar Brazoban worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings and Tommy Nance, Tanner Scott and Dylan Floro pitched a scoreless inning. The Braves scored a run in the second inning. Ronald Acuna Jr. singled home Orlando Arcia, who began the rally with a one-out walk. Miami tied the game in the bottom of the fourth when Jesus Sanchez hit a fence-clearing solo homer to left field, his 13th. The Braves had at least one base runner in each inning but went 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left 13 runners on base. --Field Level Media