NLDS Game Four: Chicago Cubs advance to NLCS with 6-4 win over St. Louis

Cubs clinch first playoff series at home since 1908

Yesterday, Joe Maddon‘s powerful lineup clubbed a postseason record six home runs and followed that up with three more as the Chicago Cubs advanced to the NLCS by defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 6-4 at Wrigley Field.

Veteran right-hander John Lackey was on the mound for Mike Matheny‘s N.L. Central-winning club and received an early lead on a two-run homer off the bat of Stephen Piscotty during the top of the first inning.

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Jason Hammel was only four pitches into the game when he fell behind but didn’t allow the Cardinals to do much after that.

Hammel, like Lackey, was chased early as he surrendered two earned runs on three hits while issuing three walks and striking out six Redbirds prior to handing things over to his bullpen in the fourth.

Lackey started off the home half of the first like it was Game 1 of this series until that three days of rest started to catch up to the 36-year-old right-hander later on in the game.

The Cubs received an RBI single off the bat of Hammel who scored Starlin Castro from second and was backed up with a three-run, opposite-field shot courtesy of Javier Baez on the first pitch of his at-bat.

Baez filled in for an injured Addison Russell who was expected to not only miss tonight’s game but Game 5 if it went back to St. Louis as well. Thankfully, he was spot on, finishing 2-for-3 and a run scored. 

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After both teams went three innings without scoring a run, the Cardinals struck for two on a pair of two-out hits by unlikely heroes in Tony Cruz and Brandon Moss.

Trevor Cahill, who had himself a fantastic start to the series, entered the game shortly after Travis Wood gave up a lead-off single to Jason Heyward.

Cruz extended and went out of the zone on a 1-2 pitch, sending it down the right-field line for an RBI double. Moss entered the game as a pinch-hitter and slapped another pitch to Soler who made a play at the plate to end the inning.

Chicago regained the lead on Anthony Rizzo‘s second solo home run in as many days to right field, then Kyle Schwarber turned on a pitch that landed on top of the video board in right field.

With the Cubs leading St. Louis by two runs, Hector Rondon was called upon by Maddon to lock things up.

Rondon gave up a two-out single to Matt Carpenter who later swiped second base, but got Stephen Piscotty to strike out swinging, ending the game and sending the crowd into a frenzy.

Now it’s time to sit back and watch who will be taking on Jake Arrieta in Game 1 of the NLCS.

Next: Are the Cubs the scariest team in the playoffs?