With two outs in the sixth, Rizzo, who went 2-for-4, sent an 0-2 pitch from left-handed reliever Kevin Siegrist to the right field bleachers for a 5-4 Cubs lead.
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Rookie Kyle Schwarber’s home run ball amazed everyone watching Tuesday night’s game.
But as unbelievable as the home run was, the physics of it staying up there on the scoreboard is equally remarkable. The Cubs are deciding between Arrieta and 5 million man Jon Lester to start the first game of the NLCS, but either way, the Cubs are looking to end their 70-year World Series drought.
Whether it’s the Los Angeles Dodgers or New York Mets, the Cubs will have both of their top of the rotation guys available. It was his third home run of the postseason. But it was only good enough for third in the competitive NL Central, with St. Louis winning a major league-best 100 games and Pittsburgh finishing second. First baseman Stephen Piscotty then launched first-pitch, two-run homer to center. He also singled in a run with two out in the second before Baez connected against Lackey, the man the Cardinals were counting on to keep their season going, to make it 4-2.
After sending crews up on the board to verify it was indeed the home run ball, based on the playoff watermark, the Cubs stuck it right back where it landed. It was the first postseason home run Lackey had allowed in eight years and 74 innings.
Hammel pitched three-plus innings before Maddon lifted him in the fourth after a leadoff walk.
St. Louis scored two in the sixth to tie it. But the rally ended with Tony Cruz – who drove in a run with a two-out double – getting thrown out at home by Jorge Soler trying to score on Brandon Moss’ RBI single to right.
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Russell left Game 3 of the NLDS against the Cardinals due to tightness in his left hamstring. Chicago C Miguel Montero credits the presence of retired big-leaguer Manny Ramirez with aiding the Cubs young Latin players.
