Cubs clinch NL Central title with 5-1 win over Cardinals

Rockies rout Marlins to stay in playoff

ST LOUIS, Missouri, Sept 28, (AP): Addison Russell hit a three-run homer and John Lackey pitched six strong innings as the Chicago Cubs clinched their second consecutive NL Central title with a 5-1 victory over the St Louis Cardinals on Wednesday.

The Cubs reached the postseason for the third straight year for the first time since 1908. They are also the first defending World Series champion to win their division the next season since the 2009 Philadelphia Phillies and the first defending champion to reach the playoffs the next season since the Cardinals won the wild card in 2012.

Lackey (12-11) retired the final 10 batters he faced. The former Cardinal struck out three and gave up two hits and two walks.

Six Cubs relievers combined for three scoreless innings of relief.

Michael Wacha (12-9) was chased after allowing the first six Cubs to reach base in the seventh.

Indians 4, Twins 2 In Cleveland, from worst to wild card, the Minnesota Twins have completed a most remarkable reversal.

A couple hours after losing 4-2 to Cleveland, the Twins earned an AL wild-card berth the Angels lost 6-4 in 10 innings to White Sox.

A season after winning just 59 games, the Twins became the first team to lose at least 100 and then make the postseason the following year.

Manager Paul Molitor’s team will play Tuesday night at either Yankee Stadium or Fenway Park in the wild-card game. Boston holds a three-game lead Colorado Rockies’ Trevor Story connects for a double to drive in two runs off Miami Marlins relief pitcher Junichi

Tazawa in the fourth inning of a baseball game on Sept 27, in Denver. (AP)