Celebrate in Style with the Official Atlanta Braves 2023 NL East Division Champions Locker Room T-shirt and Sweatshirt

In the heart of the visitor’s clubhouse, the Atlanta Braves reveled in their triumph, savoring the sweet taste of victory with championship cigars, cascades of bubbly champagne, and the spirited dance of celebration. The room was alive with joy, until a momentary pause in the music.

The Atlanta Braves Are 2023 Nl East Champions Shirt

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

“Turn the music up! Some people want to party!” exclaimed reliever Kirby Yates.

With a command that echoed through the room, the volume soared to its maximum, and the NL East title celebration was back in full swing. Yates, the closer who sealed yet another division title, was the orchestrator of the jubilation in the locker room.

Amidst the exuberance and with his fingers running through hair now dampened by the bubbly, Yates couldn’t help but acknowledge that there was no better place to be.

“So far,” he declared, “it’s the best part about being a baseball player.”

This is what the Braves do this time of year.

The Atlanta Braves clinched their remarkable sixth consecutive NL East title, securing a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. The win was propelled by Spencer Strider’s astounding 17th major league win and Austin Riley’s pivotal two-run homer.

“Now the real party starts,” Strider declared with a grin.

Yates punctuated the victory by striking out Brandon Marsh, prompting the players to converge in a jubilant frenzy near the pitcher’s mound as Phillies fans expressed their displeasure with a chorus of boos.

“Congratulations Atlanta Braves 2023 NL East Champions” flashed triumphantly on the scoreboard.

In response to the booing fans, Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. defiantly raised both arms, signaling with his hands to bring on the criticism.

“We’ve checked one box,” remarked manager Brian Snitker.

Atlanta (96-50) secured the title in 146 games, marking their second-quickest clinch in the divisional era. This achievement also marked the Braves’ record-breaking 26th division title, surpassing the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees by two titles. In the divisional era (since 1969), the Braves now boast an astonishing 23 division titles, the most by any team according to ESPN Stats & Information.

For the Braves, winning the NL East in September has become a tradition dating back to the 1990s. This year’s team appears poised for further glory, with aspirations of capturing their third World Series championship since relocating from Milwaukee to Atlanta in 1966. Over the years, Atlanta dominated with 11 consecutive NL East titles from 1995-2005, capturing the World Series in 1995 and, most recently, in 2021.

Yates, earning his fifth save, reveled in the satisfaction of clinching the title on the very same Citizens Bank Park field where the Phillies had eliminated the Braves in the NL Division Series last October. The Phillies won that series 3-1, mirroring Atlanta’s victory in this four-game showdown.

While the Phillies currently lead the NL wild card race, the prospect of a postseason showdown between the two teams looms on the horizon.

For now, the spotlight belongs to the Braves in September.

“Did we want it to be on our field? No,” admitted Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber. “But they’re going to have to do it somewhere. The focus is on us, still. We’re going to keep pushing until the very end.”

Austin Riley, one of the power hitters in the Braves’ lineup, provided the winning margin with his 35th homer of the season, a two-run blast off Cristopher Sánchez (2-4) in the first inning.

“I try not to think of moments like that,” Riley reflected. “You just try and go up there and have a good at-bat. I’ve put a lot of pressure on myself this year to perform in those moments. I was able to put a good swing on there.”

Riley also contributed with a sacrifice fly in the third inning, and Kevin Pillar added an RBI double in the fourth, extending the lead to 4-1.

Despite striking out a career-best 10 batters over 7⅓ innings, Sánchez was handed the loss as the Phillies dropped their fifth game in the last seven outings.

“We’ll bounce back,” vowed manager Rob Thomson. “This group has been resilient all year.”

Spencer Strider (17-5) delivered a stellar performance, allowing just one run and four hits in seven innings while striking out nine. Strider’s MLB-best strikeout total now stands at an impressive 259. He also provided much-needed rest for the bullpen after a challenging series in Philadelphia that saw Raisel Iglesias surrender game-tying homers in the ninth inning in two of the previous three games.

The Braves’ ability to rebound from adversity and secure victory on the road adds yet another layer to their postseason aspirations. They now stand as formidable contenders and a team to watch as October approaches.