 after three successive seasons of 90-plus losses.''I'm happy for all the guys in there that endured all that,'' Snitker said.There's more work ahead before they play either the Los Angeles Dodgers or Colorado Rockies. Snitker said he'll meet with the coaching staff and other members of the organization on Monday to determine the 25-man playoff roster. Shortstop Dansby Swanson's sore left wrist may keep him off that roster. He took some swings on Sunday and continued to receive treatment.With or without him, the Braves are in the playoffs for the first time since 2013.''It's a good feeling what we accomplished this year; where we came from, where we started to where we are right now,'' Snitker said. ''There were multiple boxes we needed to check along the way here, and we did. It's very gratifying. I'm proud of the guys in that room and how they carried themselves and showed up to play every single day.'' Markakis led the way there, playing all 162 games for the Braves, and Freeman led the NL in hits.Kevin Gausman (10-11) took the loss in a game where the Braves used five pitchers.Tommy Hunter (5-4) earned the win in relief for the Phillies, and Seranthony Dominguez got his 16th save to end a season where expectations soared in early August only to become unraveled in one of the bigger - but not close to the biggest - late-season collapses in team history.HIT KINGFreeman led the National League with 191 hits. He's the first Brave to lead the NL outright since Terry Pendleton had 187 in 1991.Freeman went 0 for 1 with a walk against the Phillies.IRON MANMarkakis because the fifth Atlanta Brave to play 162 games since 1962. Markakis started in right field and struck out twice before he was replaced for some needed rest.''He's the definition of a pro,'' Snitker said.CHANGEUPSean Newcomb retired two batters in the sixth in the first relief appearance of his career. Newcomb went 12-9 in 30 starts this season and had started all 49 of his previous appearances.GOING FOR THREEPhillies starter Ranger Suarez struck out five in three innings - and hit a stand-up triple for his first career hit.BANK ON ITThe Phillies finished 49-32 at home, their third-best record ever at Citizens Bank Park. They finished 31-50 on the road, the first time the Phillies were at least 15 games over .500 at home and 15 games under .500 on the road since 1955.Hoskins addressed the crowd before the game and said there was ''obviously a little bit of disappointment with the way the season ended'' but added that the Phillies would learn from it and be better in 2019.On fan appreciation day, Hoskins said Phillies fans were the best in baseball.UP NEXTBraves: Play Game 1 of the NLDS on Thursday, Game 2 Friday and Game 3 Sunday. Mike Foltynewicz is the likely Game 1 starter.Phillies: GM Matt Klentak and team president Andy MacPhail will meet the media this week to discuss plans for the offseason.---More baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLB and https://twitter.com/-Sports)
Braves tune up for playoffs; Phillies finish season 3h ago 2 min read The Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies close out their regular seasons Sunday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.The Braves will continue their season next week in the National League Division Series and are still fighting for home-field advantage. The Phillies are finishing out a disappointing end to their season.Kevin Gausman (10-10, 3.93 ERA) is set to start for the Braves and the Phillies will send rookie left-hander Ranger Suarez (1-1, 6.00) to the mound.Gausman will get his final regular-season tuneup before joining Atlanta's postseason rotation.The right-hander, acquired from the Baltimore Orioles at the trade deadline, has been terrific for the Braves in nine starts. Gausman has bolstered the Braves' rotation with a 2.80 ERA and 1.10 WHIP since the trade.Gausman's latest start came against the Phillies on Sept. 20. He struck out seven and gave up three runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings."These games mean a lot," Gausman, who hasn't pitched in the playoffs since 2014, told MLB.com after the game. "As a player, that's all you can ask for -- to be in September and to be playing meaningful games. To be a pitcher coming from Baltimore with the season we were having there, the playoffs were a far-fetched dream. So to be in this situation is great." Gausman discussed the difference between pitching in the regular season and postseason."The biggest difference is how draining every pitch is," Gausman told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "You're sitting in the dugout or you're out there pitching, every pitch means so much. You give up one run, and that might be it that night. There's a premium on runs, so as a pitcher, it's on you a little more than it is the regular season." Gausman only has two career starts against the Phillies, allowing eight runs in 11 1/3 innings (6.35 ERA) in those games. Jorge Alfaro is 4-for-6 with a home run, double and four RBIs versus Gausman while Jose Bautista is 6-for-26 with a home run and five strikeouts.The Braves won Gausman's last start and it began a season-worst losing streak for the Phillies.The Phillies snapped a nine-game losing streak Saturday, but have completely collapsed in September, going 7-20 in the month. Philadelphia, who was 15 games above .500 on Aug. 7, head into the final day of the season with a 79-82 record. It's the seventh season in a row the Phillies have failed to finish above .500."We've been playing terrible baseball," first-year Phillies manager Gabe Kapler told reporters after Friday night's loss. "That's why we've lost a lot of games, not because we haven't fought or because anybody quit." The Phillies are 33-42 against the NL East this season and 6-12 against Atlanta.Suarez, 23, will make his fourth appearance and third start of the season for Philadelphia. Suarez, who has never faced the Braves, has an 8.00 ERA in his two major league starts, but he did not allow an earned run in three innings out of the Phillies' bullpen Monday against the Rockies.Suarez, who could vie for a spot in Philadelphia's rotation in 2019, last started Aug. 16 when the Phillies lost 24-4 to the New York Mets. He allowed eight runs (four earned) and 11 hits while walking two and striking out two.
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