ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, September 23, 1996 TAG: 9609230154
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: ATLANTA
SOURCE: Associated Press
It looked like any other Atlanta Braves victory - and there have been plenty in the 1990s - not one that gave the World Series champions a historic trip to the playoffs.
The Braves earned their fifth postseason berth in six years, a streak interrupted only by the 1994 strike, with an 8-2 victory Sunday over the Montreal Expos to clinch the NL East.
After Greg McMichael recorded the final out on a strikeout, catcher Javy Lopez flipped him the ball while the sellout crowd of 49,238 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium cheered. The players gathered briefly in the infield for high-fives and hugs, then turned and walked off the field.
``We can enjoy this for a few days,'' said John Smoltz, who allowed only five hits in eight innings, for his 23rd win, and also hit a three-run homer. ``But we've got three more steps before the job is done.''
Atlanta, which joined Cleveland in clinching a playoff spot, can rest its starters and set up its pitching rotation in the final week as the rest of the NL playoff picture clears up.
The Braves won three straight West Division titles from 1991-93, losing twice in the World Series and once in the NL championship series. After realignment, Atlanta was second in the East when the strike ended the '94 season, but now it has won two straight titles in its new division.
Only two other franchises, the New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics, have been to the postseason five years in a row. Not counting the strike-ended season, Atlanta has now matched that streak.
Despite the loss, Montreal is still in contention for the wild-card spot, starting Sunday one game behind San Diego.
Smoltz (23-8), the overwhelming favorite to win his first Cy Young Award and break teammate Greg Maddux's streak of four in a row, beat the Expos with his arm and his bat.
He entered the day tied for the Braves' modern-era season record with 262 strikeouts, but quickly broke Phil Niekro's 1977 mark by whiffing leadoff hitter Mark Grudzielanek. Smoltz finished with 10 strikeouts to extend his major-league lead and fanned everyone in Montreal's starting lineup at least once.
LENGTH: Short : 50 lines KEYWORDS: BASEBALLby CNB