The Chicago Cubs became the first Major League team to clinch a division crown when the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the San Francisco Giants on Thursday night.
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The Cubs went down to the Milwaukee Brewers 5-4, yet ended up National League (NL) Central champions for the first time since 2008 on Thursday anyway.
The Cubs did not stick around the clubhouse and instead will celebrate after playing the second contest of their four-game series Friday afternoon. Ten of the league’s 15 teams have won division titles since the Cubs last won in 2008 under Lou Piniella – with the Cardinals and Dodgers winning four times, the Phillies three times and the Giants and Nationals two each.
Reliever Justin Grimm (1-1) took the loss for the Cubs (93-53) after giving up two runs in two-thirds of an inning.
Even as the impromptu party got started, history-minded fans wouldn’t let themselves get too overjoyed, realizing the very hard road ahead.
Heyward doubled in the fourth and scored on Montgomery’s first Cubs hit – a two-out single up the middle that tied the score at 3-3.
Hoping to hand Chris Archer (8-18, 4.05 ERA) a franchise-worst 19th loss, the Orioles send the rejuvenated Ubaldo Jimenez (7-11, 5.98 ERA) to the mound against the Rays.
“There’s no team I’d rather be going into October with”, Epstein said.
“I was just trying to put the ball in play”, Gennett said. “Obviously with were they’re at there was great energy in the park tonight”, Brewers manager Craig Counsell said.
Scooter Gennett’s pinch-hit, two-run double in the seventh pushed the Brewers to a 5-4 win over the Cubs.
Nelson, meanwhile, allowed eight hits, walked two and struck out seven.
Milwaukee Brewers starter Jimmy Nelson delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016 in Chicago.
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Cubs: RHP Pedro Strop, who tweaked his right groin while working his way back from arthroscopic left knee surgery, threw a bullpen session and said it went well. “He’s getting close”, Maddon said.
