Nationals secure home-field advantage throughout playoffs

Wasn't all that long ago -- in 2008 and 2009, actually -- that the Washington Nationals were losing 100 games a season and finishing with the worst record in the majors.

Look at them now.

Already the NL East champions, the Nationals closed the regular season by securing home-field advantage throughout the postseason, beating the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-1, yesterday for their MLB-high 98th victory.

"It's quite an accomplishment," Ryan Zimmerman said. "Obviously winning the division was a goal and now we've done that and we have a chance to go do some stuff in the playoffs."

The Nationals will open the playoffs on the road Sunday at the winner of Friday's wild-card game between Atlanta and St. Louis. Game 2 will also be at the wild-card winner's stadium, before the best-of-five series shifts to Washington. A team from the nation's capital hasn't participated in Major League Baseball action beyond the regular season since the Senators lost the 1933 World Series.

Zimmerman hit his 25th homer of the season moments after the Teddy Roosevelt mascot won the fourth-inning Presidents Race at Nationals Park for the first time. Edwin Jackson (10-11) threw 6 2/3 innings.

Posey wins NL batting title

Giants catcher Buster Posey went 0 for 2 in a 5-1 loss to the Dodgers, finishing the regular season with a .336 average to claim the NL batting title. He's the first catcher to win the NL title since Boston's Ernie Lombardi, who hit .330 in 1942.

Chisox's Johnson hits 3 HRsDan Johnson hit his first three homers of the season and Chicago added two more in the game as the White Sox routed the Indians, 9-0.

Francona, Indians to talk

Former Boston and Philadelphia manager Terry Francona will interview Friday with Cleveland, which fired Manny Acta last week. Sandy Alomar Jr. will interview Thursday.-- AP