NATIONAL LEAGUE
The Chicago Cubs clinched their second straight National League Central title by beating the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4 behind Ted Lilly’s seven innings at rocking Wrigley Field on Saturday.
The 41,597 fans jammed into the old neighborhood ballpark were ready to party as they watched the Cubs earn consecutive playoff appearances for the first time since 1908, when they also last won the World Series.
PHOTO: AP
Lilly was sailing along with a 5-0 lead when the Cardinals scored four runs with two outs in the sixth, including a three-run homer by Troy Glaus.
Lilly, who earned his career-best 16th win, regrouped in the seventh and relievers Carlos Marmol and Kerry Wood held off the Cardinals to set off celebrations on the mound.
REDS 4, BREWERS 3
PHOTO: AP
At Cincinnati, pitcher Micah Owings had a pinch-hit single off CC Sabathia with the bases loaded in the sixth inning to help Cincinnati win and deepen Milwaukee’s angst.
The Brewers have lost 15 of 19 this month, blowing a five-and-a-half game lead in the wild-card race. Milwaukee started the day two games behind Philadelphia for the playoff spot.
The latest loss fit the profile of their disastrous month.
PHOTO: AP
A fielding error enabled Cincinnati’s comeback, a pitcher drove in the go-ahead run, and Brewers reliever Eric Gagne tripped and fell on the mound while throwing a pitch as the game wound down. The Brewers also left the bases loaded in the ninth.
BRAVES 4, METS 2
At Atlanta, Pedro Martinez got off to a slow start and the New York Mets never recovered in a loss to Atlanta.
Kelly Johnson hit an RBI double off Martinez in Atlanta’s three-run first inning and rookie Josh Anderson had three hits as the Braves won to end the Mets’ three-game winning streak.
Martinez (5-6) lost his third straight decision, giving up nine hits and four runs in six innings. With the loss the Mets fell a half-game behind of the Phillies in the NL East.
PHILLIES 3, MARLINS 2
At Miami, the Phillies went ahead, fell behind, rallied and held on, escaping threats in the final three innings to beat Florida and reclaim first place in the NL East from the New York Mets.
The Phillies’ eighth win in the past nine games left them with a half-game lead over the Mets, who lost to Atlanta 4-2. Philadelphia ended the Marlins’ nine-game winning streak and dealt a blow to their faint playoff hopes.
Joe Blanton (3-0) struck out nine in five innings and left with a 3-2 lead. Ryan Madson escaped a two-on, no-out jam in the eighth, and Brad Lidge stranded a runner at second in the ninth for his 39th save in 39 chances.
DODGERS 10, GIANTS 7
At Los Angeles, Manny Ramirez hit two homers and drove in five runs, Angel Berroa drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk in the seventh to force in the go-ahead run, and Los Angeles beat San Francisco to lower its magic number for winning the NL West championship to five.
By winning for the 16th time in 20 games, the Dodgers remained three-and-a-half games ahead of second-place Arizona with seven remaining. Any combination of five Los Angeles wins or losses by the Diamondbacks will give the Dodgers their first division title since 2004 and just their fifth playoff berth in the last 20 years.
PADRES 6, NATIONALS 1
At Washington, Chris Young allowed just two hits in seven innings and hit the first home run of his career to lead San Diego over Washington.
Young won for just the second time since May 16. Two starts ago, he dazzled the Milwaukee Brewers on two hits after throwing seven-and-two-thirds perfect innings.
In other NL action, it was:
• Pirates 6, Astros 4
• Diamondbacks 5, Rockies 3
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, ST. PETERSBURG, Florida
The Tampa Bay Rays secured their first berth in the Major League Baseball playoffs with a 7-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday.
Carlos Pena hit a two-run double and Scott Kazmir rebounded from the worst start of his career to pitch six scoreless innings to help the American League East leaders wrap up at least a wild-card spot.
Cliff Floyd and Fernando Perez capped the biggest win in the club’s 11 seasons with solo home runs. The Rays also extended their lead in the division to two-and-a-half games over Boston.
The crowd of 36,048 that packed Tropicana Field stood for the entire ninth inning, chanting “Let’s Go Rays” and clanging cowbells. The Twins delayed the celebration by scoring twice, but the party was on once third baseman Evan Longoria chased down Joe Mauer’s foul pop for the final out.
INDIANS 6, TIGERS 3
At Cleveland, Choo Shin-soo continued his hot September and Jeremy Sowers pitched six strong innings to help Cleveland beat Detroit.
Choo, who is batting .448 (26-for-58) with 17 RBIs in 18 games this month, drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single in the fourth.
With the exception of one hit batter that didn’t cause an incident, all was quiet one night after the teams were involved in a bench-clearing brawl..
YANKEES 1, ORIOLES 0
At New York, Robinson Cano hit an RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning as New York staved off playoffs elimination.
Playing what is likely to be the penultimate game at Yankee Stadium, New York got a perfect inning from Mariano Rivera (6-5) and a fine start by impressive rookie Alfredo Aceves.
But it was a painful victory. Derek Jeter left after getting hit on the hand by a pitch in the ninth, which started the winning rally. Jeter’s status for yesterday’s game was uncertain, though it’s hard to imagine him missing the Yankee Stadium farewell no matter how badly he’s hurt.
Brian Burres was even better than Aceves, shutting down the Yankees on three hits through seven innings. Jim Miller (0-2) got the loss.
In other AL action, it was:
• Athletics 8, Mariners 7
• Royals 5, White Sox 2
• Blue Jays 6, Red Sox 3
• Angels 7, Rangers 3
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