The Pirates blew a ninth-inning lead against the Reds on Sunday, ensuring the franchise yet another losing season.

Pittsburgh was 16 games over .500 on Aug. 6, but has lost 18 of 23 to fall to 77-82.

The Pirates extended their major North American professional sports record -- 20 straight losing seasons.

The Nationals defeated the Cardinals on Saturday, cutting their Magic Number to one as they look to win the National League East.

Washington has put on hold a champagne celebration until they win the division. They clinched a playoff berth earlier this month.

Freddie Freeman hit a game-winning home run on Tuesday night as the Braves beat the Marlins 4-3, clinching a playoff berth in the process.

It was fitting that Freeman launched the deciding home run. On the final day of the 2011 season, he grounded to first base to begin a double-play that ended Atlanta's season after a historic September collapse.

Craig Kimbrel pitched a scoreless ninth against Miami to pick up the win. In last year's finale, he blew a ninth-inning lead in the eventual loss.

Finally, Chipper Jones started the team's rally on Tuesday night with a leadoff double. He went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts in the 2011 finale.

The Reds topped the Dodgers on Saturday night, clinching their second division title in three years.

Cincinnati won the National League Central title, becoming baseball's first division winner by a few minutes over the Giants (winners of the National League West).

Dusty Baker becomes only the third Reds skipper in franchise history to lead the team to the postseason more than once, joining Bill McKechnie (1939-40) and Sparky Anderson (1970, '72, '73, '75 and '76).

The Giants beat the Padres on Saturday night to clinch the National League West title.

San Francisco endured a season-ending injury to Brian Wilson, the 50-game suspension of Melky Cabrera and lengthy injuries to Pablo Sandoval and Freddy Sanchez.

It is the second division title for the team in three years.

"It's the first step," Sandoval said. "We're excited to get it done early. We've got it now. We're going to focus on finishing the season the right way."

The Rays broke the American League single-season record for strikeouts on Friday night against the Blue Jays.

James Shields fanned J.P. Arencibia to lead off the second inning, setting a new mark.

Rays pitchers began the night with 1,264 strikeouts, two shy of the 2001 Yankees.

The major league record is 1,404 by the Cubs in 2003.

The Reds completed a sweep of the Cubs on Thursday, becoming the first team to clinch a playoff berth in the process.

Cincinnati leads the National League Central, but they have ensured themselves of at least a Wild Card berth. They won their last two games without Dusty Baker, who was not with the team after being diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat.

"Obviously, we won the last two games for him. We have him in our thoughts, but we got good news on his update," Sean Marshall said.

Cincinnati cut its magic number to two for winning the division for the second time in three years.

In beating the Dodgers on Thursday night, the Nationals punched a ticket to the postseason.

There will be playoff baseball in the nation's capital for the first time since 1933.

Meanwhile, Washington's magic number to win the National League East was reduced to eight.

Washington was last in the postseason 79 years ago, when player-manager Joe Cronin and the Senators lost to the New York Giants in five games in the World Series.

The Orioles defeated the Athletics on Sunday night to clinch their first winning season since 1997.

That was the last year Baltimore made the playoffs.

Manny Machado's walk-off hit in the 14th inning against the Rays on Thursday gave the Orioles their 13th straight extra-inning victory.

It also allowed Baltimore to remain tied with New York for first place in the American League East.

The streak of extra-inning wins is a franchise record. Baltimore is also 27-7 in one-run games this season.