Cubs win NL Division Series, beat Cardinals

And it was Chicago’s first series-clinching victory at Wrigley Field, which first welcomed the franchise in 1916.

Molina could only watch as the Cardinals were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs for the first time in their run of five consecutive postseason appearances.

Javier Baez, Anthony Rizzo and Kyle Schwarber did the heavy lifting Tuesday as each came up with very big home runs and the bullpen did the rest to give their their fans what so many have been dreaming about for so long.

Up-and-comers all season, first-year manager Joe Maddon’s bunch of wild-card Cubs had arrived. He said he might have made the injury worse when he played in Game 3. The Mets and Dodgers play Game 5 of their NL divisional series Thursday night. It did hit the top of the scoreboard in right field, however, over the Budweiser sign, something that I wasn’t sure was possible.

With this format, the Cubs or Pirates would possibly still had to beat St. Louis to advance to the World Series, but it would not have to do so until the NLCS.

The Cubs still have lots of work to do to catch the Cardinals when it comes to producing quality homegrown pitchers.

The source said the Cubs will decide what to do with the ball after the season but wanted to leave it there for now as a memento of the Game 4 win. “I’ve said that all along, two unbelievable clubs we just beat, the Pirates, who have an unbelievable organization and the same with the Cardinals”.

Schwarber, 22, has hit three postseason home runs, including Tuesday’s monster shot in the seventh inning that traveled 438 feet, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

“We’ve done a really good job all season of not relying on any excuses”, Matheny said. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/TNS) The St. Louis Cardinals’ Jon Jay slams his helmet on the ground as Stephen Piscotty strikes out to end the game against the Chicago Cubs in Game 4 of the NLDS at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Tuesday, October 13, 2015.

St. Louis scored two in the sixth to tie it. But the rally ended with Tony Cruz – who drove in a run with a two-out double – getting thrown out at home by Jorge Soler trying to score on Brandon Moss’ RBI single to right. Maddon also said that the team has not decided which player will replace Russell on the NLCS roster when the team finalizes it, but it will likely be Jonathan Herrera.

Since Russell will be out for the entire series, the Cubs will be able to replace him on the series 25-man roster, which has not yet been announced (I’d expect it out sometime Friday morning). Cole Hamels will get the start against Marcus Stroman.