go first baseman Jose Abreu started in the designated hitter role for the 10th time and was 0 for 4 with a pair of doubl

CHICAGO -- Teams usually cant wait to get out of the cramped quarters of the visiting clubhouse at Wrigley Field. Not so the Atlanta Braves, who were delighted to put in some overtime in the less-than-friendly confines Friday night. The Braves 9-5 victory over the Chicago Cubs reduced their magic number to one and ensured them of at least a tie in the NL East. The players decided to watch the game between the second-place Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins in the clubhouse to see if they would win the outright title -- even though Nationals-Marlins wasnt slated to begin until an hour and a half after the Braves game ended. "Some guys are going to stay here and some guys families are here, so theyre going to go spend some time with their families," closer Craig Kimbrel said. "Were all going to be back here around the end of the game." The Nationals won 8-0 to keep the Braves from clinching. When asked if it would be weird sticking around so late to watch the game in an empty ballpark, Kimbrel said: "No, we did it in 2010 with San Diego and San Francisco. Its actually, a lot of fun. Lets just hope the Marlins win." If not, the Braves simply will look to take care of things during their next opportunity. "This might be the best group of guys in terms of resiliency," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "They battle. Theyre a talented group of guys -- lets not forget that --but weve gone through some adversity at times, losing some key players earlier in the year and a leader on our pitching staff. "Its a good group of guys; just a good team." That all was on display Friday. Chris Johnson went 3 for 4 with a home run, and the Braves broke open a tie game in the top of the ninth inning with four runs -- all with two outs. Brian McCann and Johnson each had an RBI single, and Andrelton Simmons followed with a two-run double. Freddie Freeman earlier hit a three-run homer for Atlanta, which jumped out to a 4-0 lead. "We had a chance for some add-on runs earlier in the game," Gonzalez said. "We some opportunities and didnt do it; (McCann) popped up with runners on second and third (in the fifth inning). But thats how good this guy is. He comes back later in the ninth inning, facing a pretty good reliever in Kevin Gregg, and gets a base hit." McCann made the most of his second chance. "I was just glad to get a pitch to handle and not miss it," the catcher said. Gregg (2-5) gave up all four ninth-inning runs, and that was just the start of his bad day. Gregg had been told by manager Dale Sveum a couple of days ago that Cubs would take an occasional look at Pedro Strop in the closers role, but Gregg took it to mean that he was no longer the closer and went on a rant against the front office after the game. That prompted Cubs president Theo Epstein to get involved. "Apparently Kevin misunderstood Dale and thought hed had his job permanently taken away from him," Epstein said. "Despite getting the ball in the closers role the past couple days, he apparently had some choice words. Upon hearing that I called him up to Dales office to tell him how disappointed I was in him. "I think it took him a couple minutes to understand that hed misunderstood Dale and he ultimately apologized to me and Dale. I told him that Id sleep on it and decide if we had any disciplinary action." On the other side of Wrigley Field, the atmosphere was completely different as the Braves prepared for their post-season party. "Its been a fun season," starter Paul Maholm said. "We started off real hot and built a big lead, we cooled off a bit, lost some people, but we were able to maintain that big lead. "Hopefully, well go deep in their playoffs." NOTES: The Braves activated OF Jason Heyward before the game. He wore a facemask attached to the right side of his batting helmet to protect the right jaw that was fractured Aug. 21 when he was struck by a pitch from the Mets Jon Niese. "Im just really excited and happy to be back," he said. "Im not going to be as good today as I will be in five days, but you have to start the process sometime." As planned, Heyward played just five innings, going 0 for 2 with a walk. ... The Cubs announced before the game that C Welington Castillo has partially torn meniscus in his right knee and will miss the rest of the season. He will have arthroscopic surgery and the expected recovery time is 4 to 6 weeks. ... The series continues Saturday with Cubs LHP Travis Wood (9-11) going against RHP Kris Medlen (14-12). Cheap Minnesota Vikings Jerseys . The Canadian tennis players first full season on the WTA Tour was a strong one. She has risen to No. 32 in the world rankings and will likely be seeded at the first Grand Slam event of the 2014 season. Cheap Vikings Jerseys . There are practical ideas, like this Chewbaca inspired Star Wars jerseys. Star Wars themed jerseys for the Toledo Mud Hens. http://www.cheapvikingsjerseyselite.com/ .ca contributor Grant McCagg provides a look at some risers and fallers on the prospect watch. Wholesale Vikings Jerseys . Many of those eyes are in the United States of America, a country that the sport has wanted on its side for some time. On Sunday the football Gods delivered once again, only this time it was time for good old USA to experience as much heartache as joy. Cheap Vikings Jerseys China . -- Washington Capitals forward Brooks Laich is expected to miss the rest of the regular season after having an operation on a groin muscle.ANAHEIM, Calif. -- This was one time when C.J. Wilson didnt question manager Mike Scioscias decision to remove him from a game while an inning was in progress. Despite the fact that a bout with the flu had sapped his energy, he still was able to dominate the Chicago White Sox for 7 1-3 innings. Wilson bounced back strongly from his shortest outing of the season, taking a three-hit shutout into the eighth, and Josh Hamilton drove in three runs to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 4-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday. Wilson (7-5) was charged with one run, struck out six, and was lifted after 107 pitches. Last Tuesday at Houston, the left-hander gave up five runs, six hits and five walks through 2 2-3 innings in a 7-2 loss. "I dont even remember what happened five days ago. Ive just been in a stupor," Wilson said "Ive been sick with the flu the last couple of days, so I didnt really have much in the tank. That was pretty much all I had. I wish could say that I could have gone nine today, or throw 130 pitches, but it just wasnt in the cards." Joe Smith relieved Wilson, giving up a double to pinch-hitter Alejandro De Aza, a run-scoring infield hit by pinch-hitter Conor Gillaspie and an RBI single by Adam Eaton before retiring Gordon Beckham in a double-play grounder. Ernesto Frieri got three outs for his 10th save. The White Sox concluded a nine-game stretch in Southern California in which they lost two of three to San Diego, won two of three against the Dodgers and were swept by the Angels thanks to Wilsons gem. "Wilson threw a great game. We didnt get anything going, and we were just flat," manager Robin Ventura said. "We just couldnt get anybody on base. And when we did, he got a couple of double-play balls that really just took the life out of any kind of rally." Chicago first baseman Jose Abreu started in the designated hitter role for the 10th time and was 0 for 4 with a pair of double-play grounders. A top contender for AL Rookie of the Year, he is 9 for 38 with four homers and 11 RBIs as a DH. "I think we held him in check the whole series, but I think we just sort of got him at a bad time," Wilson said. Jose Quintana (3-6) allowed four runs, seven hits and four walks through 4 1-3 innnings and struck out four.dddddddddddd It was the eighth time in the left-handers 13 starts that he left a game with fewer than three runs of support, and he is 0-6 in those outings. "It just seemed like Q was battling all the time with guys on base," Ventura said. "I mean, hell walk a few guys here and there, but today he was just falling behind and not really locating like he normally does." Quintana escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first when he retired Hamilton on a popup and struck out C.J. Cron. But Hamilton drove in the Angels first run with a two-out double in the third, then made it 3-0 in the fifth with a bases-loaded two-run single after Quintana walked cleanup hitter David Freese. Cron followed with an RBI single that chased the left-hander. "In situations with guys on base, the biggest thing is putting the ball in play," Hamilton said. "One time I didnt and two times I did. You do what you can to help the team win. Weve done a great job the last few games getting runners in scoring position with two outs." Freese, who had never drawn more than two walks in any of his 507 previous regular-season games in the major leagues, got a free pass all four times up -- all on 3-2 counts. That tied a franchise record for a nine-inning game, and was the first time it happened since May 18, 2013, when the White Sox walked Chris Iannetta four times. "We worked a lot of walks today. Freese had the force field going today," Wilson said. "Anytime you put that much pressure on the starting pitcher and knock him out before the fifth inning, thats good." NOTES: This was the Angels third series sweep this season, and Jered Weaver had recorded a victory in each of them. ... The Angels are batting .170 with the bases loaded (8 for 47). ... The last time Wilson faced the White Sox was May 17, 2013, when h Jerseys[/url] ' ' '