Braves book final spot

Chipper Jones has had a superb season for Atlanta

Click here for Friday's results

Chipper Jones and Paul Bako smashed two-run home runs to help the Atlanta Braves advance to the National League finals with a 6-2 triumph over the Houston Astros.

The victory gave the Braves a three-game sweep of the best-of-five divisional series.

In St Louis, Craig Counsell hit a tie-breaking three-run homer in the seventh as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Cardinals 5-3 to go 2-1 up in the series.

Miguel Batista delivered six solid innings for Arizona, who are now only one win away from clinching a place in the National League finals with the Braves.

The Arizona bench congratulates Counsell

The Cardinals left the bases loaded in the eighth and had two aboard with none out in the ninth.

But Mike Matheny failed to get down a bunt and pinch hitter Mark McGwire hit into a game-ending double play.

St Louis manager Tony La Russa said: "We've been down before but I expect we will come back like gangbusters."

In Atlanta, pitcher John Burkett threw six solid shut-out innings as the Braves finally fulfilled their potential.

Many critics wrote off Atlanta's chances before the play-offs started, despite the Braves' 10th consecutive NL East division title.

Atlanta were swept by St Louis in last year's division series, and this year claimed their fewest victories since 1990.

But they return to the league finals for the 10th time in 11 years after ousting Houston, the NL Central champions.

Friday's results:

Atlanta 6-2 Houston (Atlanta win series 3-0)

St Louis 3-5 Arizona (Arizona lead series 2-1)