Cubs Clinch NL Central Title As Giants Beat Cardinals

It’s not the party we all wanted, but it’s a party nonetheless. While the Cubs fell short in their attempt to clinch their first NL Central title since 2008 at Wrigley Field when they lost 5-4 to the Brewers tonight, the Giants downed the Cardinals 6-2 in San Francisco to reduce the Cubs magic number to zero.

Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto went the distance in this game, holding the Cards to two runs on five hits. This thankfully spared the Cubs and the Giants from having to depend on the shaky San Francisco bullpen.

The Giants took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning on a home run by Hunter Pence. Cueto was a little shaky in the third and fourth innings, giving up a run in each inning and tying the game up at 2-2. But the Giants rallied for two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take the lead for good. Cueto himself hit a sacrifice fly for one run and former Cubs outfielder Angel Pagan had an RBI single in the fourth.

After that, it was all Cueto. It was his third complete game of the season on 105 pitches. He struck out seven and walked only one.

The Giants added on two more runs in the seventh on a 2-run single by Denard Span.

This is an open thread to celebrate the Cubs title.