Chicago Cubs’ beat Cardinals to clinch first playoff series in history at home

Cubs topple the Cards 6-4; Headed to first NLCS since 2003

I’m not sure if you’ve come down off of cloud 9 yet. I’ve watched anything and everything Chicago Cubs that I could. Maybe I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. First, the Cubs knock off the second best team in baseball in the Pittsburgh Pirates–in Pittsburgh. Then we topple the best team in baseball in the Cardinals. Now were headed to the NLCS. However far this ride goes, the Cubs had no “gimme’s” in this run. They’ve earned it.

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The kids did it again. Javier Baez, Anthony Rizzo, and Kyle Schwarber all with home runs. Jorge Soler throwing out the possible go-ahead run at the plate. And remember this, some of our top stars didn’t have a great series. But it’s a team game, and Joe Maddon has shown there is never one man above the team.

This Back to the Future II bit gets a little more interesting every day. While that scene from the 1989 movie was made as one of the most unlikely scenarios possible, the Cubs winning–while still eight wins away–isn’t out of the question.

The Cubs got contributions from throughout the lineup, but along with Schwarber, Soler may have had the biggest impact. In reaching base his first nine plate appearances he set a rookie record. His two home runs were important, but his throwing out Tony Cruz at the plate may have been even bigger. Soler is often the forgotten rookie, but he’s put his name back in the front of everyone’s mind again with his NLDS performance.

Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers defeated the Mets to extend their division series to a fifth and final game. The Cubs benefit in more ways than one, as they get an extra day of rest while also knowing that the Dodgers will be forced to throw Greinke in the final game. Kershaw was already pitching on three days rest, so the Cubs may not see one of the two aces till at least game two of the series, maybe even game three.

These and other stories you might have missed:

‘Cubs advance with 6-4 over Cardinals’ – Cubbies Crib

‘Soler puts it all together in the NLDS’ – Cubbies Crib

‘Dodgers stave off elimination, force game five’ – Dodger Way

‘Cubs finally win one at Wrigley Field’ – ESPN

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