Another Chicago Cubs win, another huge performance from a rookie.
This time it resulted in the franchise's first NLCS appearance in 12 MLB seasons.
The Cubs took down the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 4 of the NLDS and won their first postseason series since 2003. It was the first time in the history of Wrigley Field that the Cubs clinched a postseason series at home.
Rookies Javier Baez and Kyle Schwarber as well as first baseman Anthony Rizzo powered Chicago to a 6-4 victory on Tuesday.
The Cardinals got off to an early 2-0 lead when outfielder Stephen Piscotty cranked a two-run home run off Cubs' right-hander Jason Hammel in the top of the first inning. However, Hammel responded with an RBI single in the bottom of the second, which was followed by a three-run blast from Baez.
Baez finished 2-for-3 with a run scored and three RBIs.
Chicago took an early 4-2 lead and Cardinals' right-hander John Lackey was removed after the third inning. He allowed four earned runs on four hits and a walk.
Hammel was also removed after the third. He surrendered two earned on three hits and three walks.
St. Louis rattled the Cubs bullpen in the sixth and tied the game on a Tony Cruz RBI double and a Brandon Moss RBI single. Cubs' relievers Travis Wood and Trevor Cahill were each charged with a run, but it wasn't long before the Cubs responded.
Rizzo, who finished 2-for-4, ripped a solo shot off reliever Cardinals' reliever Kevin Siegrist in the bottom of the sixth to take a 5-4 lead. It was the second day in a row Rizzo hit a home run off Siegrist, who also allowed a solo homer to Schwarber in the seventh inning to double the Cardinals' deficit.
Rizzo became the third Cubs player to hit a go-ahead home run in the sixth inning or later of a postseason game, according to Adam Berry of MLB.com.
Manager Joe Maddon used seven relievers in Game 4 of the NLDS to ensure the Cubs advanced to the NLCS. The combination of Wood, Cahill, Justin Grimm, Fernando Rodney, Clayton Richard, Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon allowed two earned runs on five hits and struck out 13.
Rondon struck out Piscotty with a runner on first to end the series.
One day after setting a postseason home run record with six long balls in a single game, the Cubs again used their power to defeat the MLB's top club. Chicago only had eight hits on the day, but three of them were home runs and the team drew four walks against the league's best pitching staff.
The Cubs will now face the winner of the NLDS series between the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers. The Mets can clinch tonight with a win at Citi Field.
But for now, the Cubs will be celebrating all night in Chicago.
