The Braves clinch their seventh straight division title, taking the NL East crown with a 4-2 victory over Philadelphia at Turner Field. Only seven professional sport franchises have finished first during the regular season at least seven times in a row.

In another pitchers duel, the White Sox score twice in the 12th inning, then hold on for a 17 – 16 win over the Tigers. The teams combine for 41 hits, including five each for Albert Belle of the Sox and rookie OF Juan Encarnacion of the Bengals. Encarnacion also scores five runs while driving home 4. Belle and SS Craig Wilson bring home five each for Chicago.

Arizona defeats the Reds, 5 – 0, behind the one-hit pitching of Andy Benes. Gregg Olson picks up the last two outs for the save, as 1B Sean Casey gets the only hit for Cincinnati.

Mark McGwire draws his 152nd walk of the season, to break the National League mark set by Barry Bonds, as the Astros defeat the Cardinals, 3 – 2.

Philadelphia rides five hits by SS Alex Arias, including three doubles, to a 13 – 4 win over the Pirates.

Dropping an 8-2 decision against division-leading Atlanta, the Marlins lose their 100th game of the season, becoming the first team that has gone from being World Series champions to having triple digits defeats the next season. Florida, which has never had 100 defeats during its six-year existence, will compile a 54-108 (.333) record to finish last in the five-team National League East.

Kansas City’s Kevin Appier makes his first start of the season, stopping the Mariners, 8 – 5. It is exactly one year since Appier’s last start, at Anaheim. Since then he’s had two operations and been hospitalized with colon inflammation. His two strikeouts today put him in a tie for the career club record.