Arizona moved to a 2-0 lead over Chicago in its National League division series with an 8-4 win on Thursday that put the Cubs on the brink of despair once again.
Rookie Chris Young hit a three-run homer and Stephen Drew tripled in two more to put the Diamondbacks within one game of victory in the best-of-five series.
The series now moves to Chicago's Wrigley Field, but unless the Cubs can turn it around at home, its World Series-winning drought will extend to 99 years and counting.
Just three years after losing 111 games in a season, the young Diamondbacks can move into the NL championship series with a win on Saturday, when Arizona will send Livan Hernandez to the mound against Rich Hill.
Eric Byrnes had an RBI triple for the Diamondbacks, who are the first team since the 1906 White Sox to have a league's best record and worst batting average.
They won yet again with timely hitting, solid starting pitching, sound defense and a strong bullpen.
Doug Davis gave up a two-run homer to Geovany Soto in the second, then settled in for three scoreless innings. The Arizona left-hander, acquired in a trade last offseason, allowed four runs and six hits in 5 2-3 innings overall. He struck out eight and walked four. He also had an RBI sacrifice bunt.
After Davis was removed, reliever Juan Cruz promptly gave up a two-run double to pinch-hitter Daryle Ward, with both runs charged to Davis.
The Cubs' lefty starter, Ted Lilly, lasted just 3 1-3 innings, allowing six runs.
Rockies 10, Phillies 5
In Philadelphia, Kaz Matsui hit his first career grand slam and drove in five runs, leading Colorado over Philadelphia 10-5 on Thursday for a 2-0 lead in their division series.
Matsui connected off scheduled Game 4 starter Kyle Lohse, who was rushed in to relieve struggling rookie Kyle Kendrick in the fourth inning.
Rookie Ubaldo Jimenez will try to pitch Colorado to a sweep tonight at Coors Field against veteran Jamie Moyer.
Making just the second postseason appearance in the franchise's 15-year history, Colorado is on the verge of going to its first National League Championship Series. The wild-card Rockies posted their eighth straight road victory, and have won 16 of 17 overall.
C.C. Sabathia settled down after giving up a debated homer on his fifth pitch and the Indians returned to Major League Baseball's postseason after a six-year absence by beating the New York Yankees 12-3 in their American League playoff opener.
Playoff newcomer Victor Martinez hit a two-run homer, rookie Asdrubal Cabrera had a solo shot off Wang Chien-ming (
Kenny Lofton had four RBIs and Casey Blake added two as the Indians delighted a towel-waving crowd.
Sabathia threw 113 pitches, allowing three runs and four hits -- including two homers -- in five innings.
Johnny Damon homered leading off the first and Robinson Cano homered in the fourth, but New York did little else.
New York has lost four straight playoff games, a streak rarely seen for the MLB's most decorated franchise which hasn't added to its collection of 26 World Series titles since 2000.
Damon led off the game with a shot to right initially ruled foul by umpire Jim Wolf, who may have lost sight of the ball in the sun's glare.
Damon had already broken into his home-run trot when Wolf emphatically signaled foul. Damon threw up his hands in disbelief as manager Joe Torre jogged out to protest.
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