Cardinals Advance Past Braves Admist Controversial Call

Scott Cunningham/Getty Images(ATLANTA) -- The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Atlanta Braves 6-3 Friday night, to advance to the NLDS against the Washington Nationals.

The win didn't come without some controversy. In the bottom of the eighth the Braves had a man on first and second with one out when shortstop Andrelton Simmons hit a short fly ball into left field which fell between Cardinals left fielder Matt Holliday and Pete Kozma. The Braves thought that it was a hit, but the umpires called the infield fly rule, which automatically rules Simmons out. The call was followed by fans throwing everything they could onto the field delaying the game close to 20 minutes.

The Braves protested the game, but the executive vice president of baseball operations Joe Torre denied the request, saying it was a "judgement call."

"You know that call is kind of a grey area," Braves third baseman Chipper Jones said, who was playing his final Major League game. "I'm not willing to say that particular call cost us the ballgame. Ultimately three errors cost us the ballgame...mine probably being the biggest."

Jones error occured in the fourth-inning when he threw away a double-play ball that ignited a three-run inning from the Cardinals.

Kyle Lohse pitched 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball to get the win.

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Freeman Blasts Braves Into Playoffs

Scott Cunningham/Getty Images(ATLANTA) -- The Atlanta Braves clinched a playoff berth Monday night, when first baseman Freddie Freeman blasted a two-run walk-off home run, giving the Braves (89-65) a 5-4 victory over the Miami Marlins (66-88).

Last season, the Braves had a 8 1/2 game lead on the St. Louis Cardinals, the morning of September 6, but they posted a 9-18 record in September and ended up missing the playoffs.

"There was never any doubt," Braves third baseman Chipper Jones said of making the playoffs. "We knew that last year was somewhat of a fluke."

Chipper helped make sure it was a fluke. He started off the bottom of the ninth with a double, and scored the tying run on Freeman's blast.

Besides making the playoffs, the Braves made some history. For the 22nd consecutive time, the Braves won a game that pitcher Kris Medlen has started. That ties the Braves with the New York Yankees, who won 22 straight games between 1950-53 when pitcher Whitey Ford started.

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Braves Win 21st Straight With Medlen On the Mound

Tony Firriolo/MLB Photos via Getty Images(MIAMI) -- Kris Medlen continues to be a good luck charm for the Atlanta Braves. The 26-year-old pitcher threw eight-innings of shutout ball, as the Braves (88-64) won their 21st straight game that Medlen has started, this time beating the Miami Marlins (66-84), 3-0.

The 21 straight victories by a team when a certain pitcher starts is the best since the New York Yankees won 22 straight between 1950-53 when Whitey Ford started. Medlen's streak began in 2010.

“It’s awesome,” Medlen said. “My wife’s told me and a couple of people have said some of the names I’m being mentioned with. Whitey Ford? Come on. Don’t even say it…. Anytime you can get mentioned in the same sentence as guys like that, it’s really cool. I just try not to get too ahead of myself, just focus on the goal at hand, which is trying to make the playoffs.”

With the win, the Braves magic number is five to clinch a Wild Card spot.

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Medlen Strikes Out Career-High 12, Atlanta Tops Colorado 6-1

Tony Firriolo/MLB Photos via Getty Images(ATLANTA) -- Braves starting pitcher Kris Medlen struck out a career-high 12, as Atlanta rocked the Colorado Rockies on Monday, 6-1.

The 26-year-old Medlen (7-1) allowed just five hits and one unearned run en route to his second complete game of the season. His scoreless innings streak of 34 2/3 innings was snapped in the seventh, when Braves shortstop Paul Janish misplayed a ball hit by Rockies third baseman Jordan Pacheco.

Rockies starter Tyler Chatwood (4-4) gave up five earned runs on three hits in three innings of work. The big blow came in the third, when Braves catcher David Ross doubled home two runs.

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Scoreboard Roundup - 8/16/12

Scott Cunningham/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- MLB: The Atlanta Braves (69-49) defeated the San Diego Padres (52-68), 6-0 behind Kris Medlen’s complete game five-hitter. Braves third baseman Chipper Jones hit two home runs on “Chipper Jones Bobblehead Night” in Atlanta.

The New York Mets (56-62) doubled up the Cincinnati Reds (71-47), 8-4.

The Pittsburgh Pirates (65-53) took care of the Los Angeles Dodgers (65-54), 10-6.

The Milwaukee Brewers (53-64) edged the Philadelphia Phillies (54-64), 7-4.

The Colorado Rockies (45-71) hooked the Miami Marlins (53-66), 5-3.

The Arizona Diamondbacks (59-59) trimmed the St. Louis Cardinals (64-54), 2-1.

The Texas Rangers (68-49) lassoed the New York Yankees (70-48), 10-6.

The Boston Red Sox (58-61) tamed the Baltimore Orioles (64-54), 6-3.

The Chicago White Sox (65-52) topped the Toronto Blue Jays (55-63), 7-2.

The Oakland Athletics (62-55) shut out the Kansas City Royals (51-66), 3-0.

The Tampa Bay Rays (64-54) blanked the L.A. Angels (62-57), 7-0.

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