Cubs make it to NLCS for 1st time in 12 years

Chicago won the series three games to one.

All-Star first baseman Anthony Rizzo gave the Cubs the lead the previous inning. “Hopefully, this is just a taste of what is to come”. That sent the players streaming out of the dugout and prompted a wild celebration among the long-suffering Cubs fans. For the first time since the ballpark opened 101 years ago, in their 7,907th game on its hallowed ground, the Cubs clinched a playoff series at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs will play Saturday in game one of the NLCS against the victor of the other NLDS series between the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers. All four of those runs came off Lackey, who threw three innings and let up those four runs on four hits while walking one and striking out five. Despite owning the best record in baseball for most of the season, the Cardinals were no match for the powerful Cubs in a rare playoff failure for one of the majors’ most successful franchises.

Now, the only thing left to do, fans said, is look to making another run at it next season. “Just a collection of skill and fight and character just all the way across the board”. Toronto is looking to become only the sixth team to overcome a 2-0 deficit in a division series.

Chicago relievers Fernando Rodney and Clayton Richard combined to blank St. Louis in the seventh. On Wednesday, the Cubs announced that they would be leaving the ball right where it was.

78,539 – Times you will probably hear the Go! “From the beginning to the end the bullpen was fabulous”. “Up and down, we were all wonderful”. He said he wanted to make a painting of it. “We just beat the best team in baseball”.

Before the game, as Jason Hammel warmed up, it was a different song: Pearl Jam’s “Alive”, a classic by Eddie Vedder, a fan who has been a regular around the Cubs this month.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jason Hammel works in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardnials during Game 4 of the NLDS at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Tuesday, October 13, 2015.

In their postseason history, the Cubs have now hit 57 home runs. He clubbed a two-run homer in the first inning, his third of the postseason. Even with Arrieta not flawless, the Cubs won, and it was a true team effort, the type that proved the Cubs are a team to be watched. But Tom Comings, a Tribune Publishing employee, confirmed the ball landed under the “i” in the Budweiser sign through before and after photos of the scoreboard.

Pinch hitter Brandon Moss then singled to right to score Peralta.

Closer Hector Rondon sealed it in the ninth inning, striking out Stephen Piscotty and leaping for joy with catcher Miguel Montero.

Rizzo’s go-ahead homer in the sixth was his second of the postseason.

Then, Kyle Schwarber stepped up to the plate in the bottom half of the frame and launched a home run of epic proportions to right field that left everyone who saw it in awe. The Cubs won in Pittsburgh against the Pirates and the team was also able to take a game in St. Louis before winning two in Chicago. “But you’ve got to know the Cardinals never quit … and they’re going to fight until the last out”.

“The guys fought back into this game after having a good lead early”, said Cardinals manager Mike Matheny. Backup C Tony Cruz went 1-for-4 with an RBI double.