For the first time since 2011, the Philadelphia Phillies are National League East champions. The Phillies clinched their first division title in 13 years with Monday’s win over the Chicago Cubs (PHI 6, CHC 2). Philadelphia clinched a postseason berth with Friday’s win. Now they have the NL East title locked up as well.
“Any time you’re able to get into the postseason, no matter what the clinch is like, it’s huge,” Phillies star Bryce Harper said Friday (via MLB.com). “This game is hard. It’s hard to go wire to wire, and I think our team has done a great job obviously this whole season. We’ve got bigger goals and things like that, but it’s a great moment.”
The Phillies moved into sole possession of first place on May 3 and never looked back. Their lead swelled to 10 games several times over the summer, and it was never smaller than five games after May 18. Philadelphia’s division title has been inevitable for weeks. The Atlanta Braves had won each of the previous six NL East titles. That reign is over…