The joyful noise coming out of the visitor’s clubhouse at Citizens Bank Park was loud and proud.
The Atlanta Braves indulged in a raucous celebration after securing their sixth consecutive NL East title. Amidst the jubilation, the Braves players enjoyed championship cigars, sprayed each other with champagne, chugged beers, and danced in pools of spilled alcohol.
The revelry briefly halted until reliever Kirby Yates exclaimed: “Turn the music up! Some people want to party!”
As the music blared, the NL East title celebration resumed, with Yates, the closer responsible for sealing the division title, leading the charge in the clubhouse.
The kings of the NL East are celebrating in Philly 👑 pic.twitter.com/uol9pb0Upt
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) September 14, 2023
“So far, it’s the best part about being a baseball player. It’s just what the Braves do this time of year,” Yates confidently said.Â
The Braves clinched the division title by defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 on Wednesday night, powered by Spencer Strider’s MLB-leading 17th win and Austin Riley’s two-run homer.
“Now the real party starts,” Strider declared.
Braves 3B Austin Riley has hit his 35th HR of the season tonight vs the Phillies.
He is the 3rd Braves player with 35 HR this season – which is tied for the most players with 35 HR on 1 team in a season in MLB history. pic.twitter.com/oBWh5vfRW5— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 13, 2023
Yates struck out Brandon Marsh to seal the victory, and the Braves players danced jubilantly near the mound, drawing boos from Phillies fans. The scoreboard flashed “Congratulations Atlanta Braves 2023 NL East Champions.”
Responding to the boos, Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. raised his arms and signaled for more, embracing the role of the antagonist.
“We’ve checked one box,” remarked manager Brian Snitker.
The Braves achieved their 96th win in 146 games, marking their second-fastest clinch in the divisional era. This victory also marked the Braves 26th division title, a record two more than the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees.
It was their 23rd division title in the divisional era since 1969, the most by any team.
6 STRAIGHT!
The Atlanta Braves are 2023 NL East Champions! #ForTheA pic.twitter.com/dIWxcZf5Sg
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 14, 2023
With the Phillies leading the NL wild card race, the two teams could potentially face each other again in the postseason, which needless to say would be epic.Â
Riley, one of the Braves power hitters, slugged his 35th home run, a two-run shot off Cristopher Sánchez in the first inning. “You just try and go up there and have a good at-bat,” Riley humbly remarked about his blast.
Riley also contributed a sacrifice fly in the third inning, and Kevin Pillar added an RBI double in the fourth, giving the Braves a 4-1 lead.
Clearly, Atlanta has been the best team in baseball this season.
Do you think this 2023 team is better than the title-winning team in 2021.Â
Can anyone stop them from winning the World Series this year?