UNDATED (AP) — The team that is bringing postseason baseball back to our nation's capital for the first time in 79 years reached another milestone last night. The Washington Nationals captured the National League East crown despite a 2-0 loss to the visiting Philadelphia Phillies. The Nats secured the division title when the second-place Atlanta Braves got beat 2-1 in Pittsburgh.

Three years after winning 59 games, Washington is 96-64 and tied with Cincinnati for the top seed in the NL playoffs.

This is 69-year-old Davey Johnson's 16th season as a big league manager. His teams have finished first or second 13 times.

Also in the National League

— Jaime (HY'-mee) Garcia homered off Bronson Arroyo and pitched into the seventh inning, helping the St. Louis Cardinals clinch a tie for the second NL wild card and spoil Dusty Baker's return from a mini-stroke with a 4-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. The defending World Series champions have won 11 of 14 and lead the L.A. Dodgers by two games with two games left.

— The Dodgers nipped West champion San Francisco 3-2 to keep their faint wild card hopes alive. Elian Herrera singled in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the ninth for the Dodgers' sixth straight win.

— Giancarlo Stanton hit his 37th homer, and Rob Brantly hit a tiebreaking RBI double in the eighth inning to help the Miami Marlins beat the New York Mets 3-2.

— Carlos Gomez, Rickie Weeks and Jonathan Lucroy all hit home runs to lead the Milwaukee Brewers to a 5-3 win over the San Diego Padres.

— The Chicago Cubs got their 100th loss of the season when Lucas Harrell threw six shutout innings to lead the Houston Astros to a 3-0 win.

— The Arizona Diamondbacks scored four runs in the top of the 13th and beat Colorado 7-5.

Over in the American League:

— Miguel Cabrera had four hits, including a homer during a five-run sixth inning, and the Detroit Tigers held off the Kansas City Royals 6-3 to clinch the AL Central title. The Tigers have made the postseason in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1934-35.

— Oakland is back in the playoffs for the first time in six years. The Athletics beat the first-place Texas Rangers 4-3 to remain in contention for a division crown. Coco Crisp had a go-ahead RBI double in the fifth as Oakland pulled within one game of Texas in the down-to-the-wire AL West race.

— Mike Trout had four hits and drove in three runs in Los Angeles' 8-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners but it wasn't enough to keep the Angels in the playoff chase.

— Robinson Cano (kuh-NOH'), Curtis Granderson, Russell Martin and Mark Teixeira (teh-SHEHR'-uh) homered in a nine-run second inning, and the New York Yankees routed the Boston Red Sox 10-2 Monday night to open a one-game lead over Baltimore in the AL East with two games to play.

— Baltimore lost 5-3 at Tampa Bay and dropped into second place. Alex Cobb allowed two hits over seven innings. The Rays have won 11 of 12 but were eliminated from the wild card chase.

— Rookie Hector Santiago allowed just one hit in seven shutout innings as the Chicago White Sox posted an 11-0 win over Cleveland, but were eliminated in the AL Central race.

— Anthony Gose singled home the winning run in the 10th inning as the Toronto Blue Jays rallied to beat the Minnesota Twins 6-5.

NFL-WEEK 4 FINALE

A beat-down in Big-D

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Charles Tillman returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown and Lance Briggs also returned an interception for a TD as the Chicago Bears routed the Dallas Cowboys 34-18. The Bears are 3-1 at the quarter pole of the NFL season.

Tony Romo threw five interceptions, matching the most in his career. Major Wright had two of the picks as the Cowboys fell to 2-2.

Jay Cutler totally outplayed Romo. The Bears quarterback completed 18 of 24 passes for 275 yards and two TDs.

Pro Bowl running back Matt Forte (FOHR'-tay) returned to the Bears lineup after missing the last game with a sprained right ankle and being limited in practice all week. He had 52 yards on 13 carries.

NFL-COLTS-PAGANO

Pagano undergoing cancer treatment

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — It took Chuck Pagano less than nine months to instill his fighter's mentality and hopeful spirit in the Indianapolis Colts.

He will need both to survive the biggest battle of his life — leukemia.

In a somber news conference Monday, the Colts announced that their new coach had been hospitalized for cancer treatment and probably would not return to full coaching duties this season. He will be replaced on an interim basis by offensive coordinator Bruce Arians.

NFL-JETS

Holmes could miss time

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Santonio Holmes is expected to be sidelined at least a few weeks after injuring his left foot early in the fourth quarter of the New York Jets' 34-0 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Coach Rex Ryan says X-rays on the wide receiver's foot were negative, but the team is awaiting results of an MRI exam. Ryan adds that he's not sure "how many weeks" Holmes will be out, but says it looks "doubtful" for this week.

With All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis (DUH'-rehl REE'-vihs) likely out for the season with a torn ligament in his left knee, the Jets signed Aaron Berry to add much-needed depth to their secondary. Detroit terminated Berry's contract in July after his second arrest of the summer.

NBA-NEWS

New-look Lakers on display...Thibodeau and Collins extended

UNDATED (AP) — Dwight Howard says he's ready to learn about winning from Kobe Bryant.

Howard and Bryant wore their gold uniforms together Monday as the Lakers opened training camp with a revamped roster and sky-high expectations.

Two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash, Pau Gasol (pow gah-SOHL') and Metta World Peace joined Howard and Bryant in Los Angeles' new starting five.

In other NBA news:

— The Chicago Bulls have given coach Tom Thibodeau (THIH'-buh-doh) a four-year contract extension through the 2016-17 season. The Bulls had exercised their option for next season this past spring. Thibodeau was the NBA's Coach of the Year for the 2010-11 season and the runner-up last season.

— The Philadelphia 76ers have picked up the 2013-14 option on coach Doug Collins' contract. Collins led the Sixers to the playoffs in his first two seasons with the team.

— Philadelphia 76ers center Andrew Bynum has a bone bruise on his right knee and will sit out three weeks as a precaution. Bynum says he felt discomfort over the weekend but it was not related to the knee treatment he underwent in Germany to help stimulate healing in arthritis-affected areas in both of his knees.

— Cavaliers coach Byron Scott says Kyrie (KY'-ree) Irving's broken hand is completely healed and the star guard will not be limited during training camp. Last season's NBA rookie of the year broke his right hand in July when he slapped a padded wall in frustration during practice in Las Vegas.

— Free-agent guard Jannero Pargo has signed with the Wizards. Washington is adding backcourt depth after finding out last week that starting point guard John Wall is sidelined with a left knee injury. The 6-foot-1 Pargo averaged 5.6 points, 1.9 assists and 1.5 rebounds with the Atlanta Hawks last season

NHL-LABOR

Lawmakers tell NHL that Big Brother is watching...Talks to resume today

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey senators Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg have sent a letter to the NHL commissioner and the director of the NHL Players' Association urging them to reach a settlement and end the lockout. They want the league and the union to consider the economic impact on a state that has already lost the NBA's Nets to Brooklyn.

The Democrats write that Congress has jurisdiction over interstate commerce, which includes professional sports, and will be keeping a "close eye" on negotiations.

The New Jersey Devils gave Newark a financial boost five months ago when they made the Stanley Cup Finals.

Meanwhile, NHL labor talks are set to resume this morning. But discussions are focusing on hockey-related revenue and not the core economic issues that continue to divide the two sides as the league-imposed lockout enters its third week.

RYDER CUP-OLAZABAL

One and done

LONDON (AP) — Jose Maria Olazabal (oh-lah-THAH'-bul) says being European Ryder Cup captain can be "torture" at times and he rules out staying on for another two years in the role.

The Spaniard guided Europe to a 14½-13½ victory over the United States in a stirring comeback Sunday at Medinah (muh-DY'-nuh).

Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley are the favorites to replace the popular Olazabal for the 2014 match in Gleneagles, Scotland.

RYDER CUP-RATINGS

Did you see that?

NEW YORK (AP) — The Ryder Cup's final day has drawn its highest preliminary television rating since the last big comeback 13 years ago.

Sunday's coverage on NBC earned a 4.1 overnight rating and 9 share. The network says that's the best since a 6.3/15 for the U.S. comeback in 1999 in Brookline, Mass.

This time, the Europeans rallied from the same 10-6 deficit to win 14½ -13½.

INDYCAR-POCONO RETURN

IndyCar going back to the future

UNDATED (AP) — IndyCar is celebrating its history and tradition by returning to Pocono Raceway next season after a 23-year absence.

Mario Andretti says Pocono is an important venue for IndyCar fans in the Northeast, and wished he was young enough to compete in the July 7 race.

Pocono will be part of the "Triple Crown" challenge that was abandoned years ago. A $1 million bonus will be awarded to a driver who wins the Indianapolis 500, Pocono's 400-miler and the 2013 season finale at Fontana.

TENNIS-TOKYO

Murray back in action

TOKYO (AP) — Andy Murray opened the defense of his Japan Open title by beating Ivo Karlovic (EE'-voh KAR'-loh-vihch) 7-6, 6-4 in the opening round. It was Murray's first match since winning the U.S. Open last month. He had to withstand a 17-ace barrage by the 6-fot-10 Croatian.

TENNIS-NADAL

Rafa looking down the road at return

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Rafael Nadal plans to return from a knee injury at an Abu Dhabi exhibition tournament in late December.

The Spaniard hasn't played since losing in the second round of Wimbledon in June. He is recovering from a partially torn patella tendon in his left knee.

The 11-time Grand Slam champion said last month he had no timetable for his return but was targeting the Australian Open in January.