Freeman home run puts Braves back on playoff

ATLANTA – Freddie Freeman hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning to put the Atlanta Braves back in the playoffs with a 4-3 victory over the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night.

Freeman’s drive off Mike Dunn clinched at least an NL wild-card berth for the Braves, who squandered a big lead in the wild-card race with a huge collapse last September.

Longtime star Chipper Jones, who plans to retire at the end of the season, led off the ninth with a double. He moved to third on a wild pitch by Dunn (0-3) and scored when Freeman’s 22nd homer easily cleared the center-field wall.

Craig Kimbrel (3-1) worked a scoreless inning to help the Braves win their 22nd straight game started by Kris Medlen. The streak is the longest in the majors since the New York Yankees won 22 consecutive games started by Whitey Ford in 1950 and ‘53.

In Cincinnati, Johnny Cueto pitched seven solid innings, and the Cincinnati Reds stayed in the chase for the NL’s top record by beating Milwaukee, 4-2, after learning they’ll be without their manager for the rest of the week.

The Brewers dropped back-to-back games for the first time in more than a month, and fell to 4 1/2 games behind St. Louis for the final NL wild card spot as the Cardinals later beat Houston, 4-0.

Reds manager Dusty Baker met players before the game and revealed he suffered a mini-stroke in addition to being treated for an irregular heartbeat last week. The 63-year-old manager hopes to return to the dugout next week.                        (AP)