Finale fireworks
Bryant, Bote, Hamilton homer in high-scoring end to regular season with both teams now headed for playoffs
Reynaldo Lopez struggled and the Chicago White Sox tumbled out of position for a home playoff series, losing 10-8 to Kris Bryant and the crosstownCubs on Sunday.
The White Sox (35-25) finished the season with seven losses in eight games to go from first in the AL Central to the seventh seed for their first playoff appearance since 2008. Theywere in second place in thedivision heading into the finalday, but Cleveland rallied for an 8-6 victory over Pittsburgh and hopped over Chicago based on its 8-2 record in the season series.
The South Siders scored five in the eighth inning, and Yasmani Grandal's tworun homer trimmed the Cubs' lead to 10-8 in the ninth. Andrew Chafin came in with two outs and a runner on and struck out Nomar Mazara looking for his first save of the season.
The MiamiMarlins (31-29) finished third in the NL East and earned the NL's sixth seed and a matchup at the Cubs in the first round.
Oakland's victory, coupled with Minnesota's loss to Cincinnati, gave the AL West champion A's the No. 2 seed in the
American League playoffs. They'll be home at the Coliseum for a best-of-three series against the seventh-seeded White Sox beginning Tuesday.
Bryant, Billy Hamilton and David Bote homered for the Cubs (34-26), who rested Anthony Rizzo, Jason Heyward, Willson Contreras and Ian Happ a day after clinching the NL Central title. Adbert Alzolay (1-1) struck out a career-high eight in five effective innings.
TheCubsare theNL's thirdseed for their fifth playoff appearance in the last six years. They will be at Wrigley Field for the wild-card round beginning on Wednesday againstNo. 6 seed Miami.
The North Siders had lost five of six before taking two of three in the weekend set at Guaranteed Rate Field. The series concluded with homers on back-to-back days for Bryant, an encouraging sign after the 2016 NL MVPwas sidelined by oblique tightness.
Bryant, who has struggled with injuries and inconsistency for much of the pandemic-shortened season, opened the second with a massive drive to left for his fourth homer. Bote added a two-run shot, Cameron Maybin singled in two runs and Hamilton swiped home as part of a double steal, helping the Cubs build a 6-0 lead.
Lopez (1-3) was pulled with one out in the inning. Hewas charged with all six runs and four hits.
The right-hander had gone 1-0 with a 2.35 ERA in his previous three starts.
Hamilton also hit a drive to left-center in the fourth, making it 7-0 with his first homer since Aug. 29, 2018, for Cincinnati against Milwaukee.
He became the first player to go deep and steal home in the same game for the Cubs
since Glenn Beckert on April 11, 1967, according to Elias Sports.
The Cubs brought up left-hander Brailyn Marquez from their alternate training site in South Bend, Indiana. Infielder Patrick Wisdomwas designated for assignment.