Recap: Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis
Sports Network | September 20, 2008
Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Alfonso Soriano hit a two-run single and the Chicago Cubs held off the St. Louis Cardinals, 5-4, to clinch the National League Central division title for the second straight year.
Ted Lilly (16-9) gave up four runs on six hits in seven frames with five strikeouts and two walks for Chicago, which has won back-to-back division crowns for the first time in franchise history. Now the Cubs turn their eyes towards the postseason, where they will try to exorcise the club's demons and win their first World Series since 1908.
Chicago will face the NL wild card in the best-of-five division series, unless that wild card winner is also from NL Central, in which case the Cubs will face the division winner with the worse record.
Joel Pineiro (6-7) surrendered five runs -- three earned -- on six hits in six frames to take the loss for St. Louis, which had won two straight after a seven-game losing streak and all but erased any hopes for a playoff berth. Troy Glaus hit a three-run homer for the Cardinals, who nearly rallied from an early 5-0 deficit, but still had to watch their bitter rival celebrate a division title.
The Cardinals entered play Saturday trailing Philadelphia by 5 1/2 games in the NL wild card race, with Milwaukee, Florida, and Houston all between the Phillies and St. Louis.
