Cubs clinch NL Central title

subid=0tmpid=1826RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fphobos.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewAlbum%253Fi%253D4510291%2526id%253D4510403%2526s%253D143441%2526partnerId%253D30">Download "Go Cubs Go" by Steve Goodman at iTunesCINCINNATI -- Hours before his Cubs took care of business Friday night with a 6-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds, manager Lou Piniella noticed something about his team.And he liked it."I know when they came in today, they showed some emotion in the clubhouse," Piniella said. "It's good."It got even better for the Cubs. Settling into clubhouse chairs and munching on their postgame grub, the players watched as the San Diego Padres beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-3 at Miller Park.The mood went from anticipatory to celebratory when the Brewers made the final out. The combination of the Cubs' victory and Milwaukee's loss made the Cubs (84-76) the champions of the National League Central for 2007.It was the Cubs' first division title since Dusty Baker's club went 88-74 in 2003 and went all the way to Game 7 of the NL championship series before falling to the Florida Marlins.In the champagne-soaked clubhouse, the players, coaches and staff took part in a raucous celebration that made the 2003 party and the 1998 wild-card bubbly bath look like Sunday tea parties.MORE COVERAGERozner: Cubs get it done for the fans
Constable: Cubs win! Cubs win!
Santo soaks it all in
Relief sets in as Cubs finally get to celebrate
Zambrano delivers Z-clincher
Soriano comes up big when it counts
Hendry: Winning 'was a little of everything'
Cubs notes
The Cubs will open the National League division series on the road Wednesday against an opponent to be determined."You know what?" Piniella said. "These kids deserved it. They really let loose, and I mean let loose. And it's good to see. They've had a lot of emotion. It's been a rough summer for us. It hasn't been easy. But these kids endured and got the job done. Now, they're letting loose and having fun."I'll tell you this. I've been to a few of these. I've never seen as much emotion as I've seen in this place tonight."Piniella then mentioned that he wanted to have a "couple more of these." No, he wasn't talking about bottles of champagne. He was talking about celebrations.And his players were all for it."We're as good as anybody in the playoffs," said closer Ryan Dempster, who finished Friday's game and celebrated his first title. "We're not done yet." CENTRAL DIVISION CHAMPS
National League Central Division champions since the three-divisional system began in 1994.2007: Chicago Cubs
2006: St. Louis Cardinals
2005: St. Louis Cardinals
2004: St. Louis Cardinals
2003: Chicago Cubs
2002: St. Louis Cardinals
2001: Houston Astros
2000: St. Louis Cardinals
1999: Houston Astros
1998: Houston Astros
1997: Houston Astros
1996: St. Louis Cardinals
1995: Cincinnati Reds
1994: Strike
The Cubs were coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of the Marlins at Florida, but they seemed to have forgotten all about that when they arrived at the Great American Ball Park.Piniella couldn't quite put his finger on the emotion he detected."It wasn't ticked off," Piniella said. "It was like, 'Yeah.' It was just #8230; not relief, a sense of accomplishment of sorts. It was good to see. I like players and a team that shows some emotion at times, and they did tonight."There was no more emotional tone-setter than starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano. Way back on April 2, when the Cubs were quite a different team, Zambrano opened the season here and lasted only 5 innings in a 5-1 loss.On Friday, he came out dealing, throwing only 37 pitches over the first 3 innings. In the fourth, The Reds bunched 3 straight singles, but on the third, a hit to left field by Edwin Encarnacion, Alfonso Soriano came up firing and gunned down Joey Votto at home plate.It was Soriano's 19th outfield assist of the season, and it effectively took the life out of the Reds.Zambrano did the rest."This one was very important," Zambrano said. "We started the season here, and before the game (Friday), I was thinking about, 'Here we started, and here we will finish this.' "Soriano got the Cubs going on offense, too. He led off the game with his 32nd home run of the season. It was his 11th leadoff homer this year and 6th this month, establishing a big-league monthly mark.The Cubs picked up a run in the second against Bronson Arroyo, and Derrek Lee hit a 2-run homer in the fifth.Zambrano made it through 7 innings before Bob Howry and Dempster finished.General manager Jim Hendry allowed his players at least 15 minutes to celebrate before he came down and got a champagne bath."How 'bout them Cubs?" Hendry howled.The Cubs looked like anything but champs early in the year, stumbling out to a 22-31 start. From there, the club made changes, such as trading No. 1 catcher Michael Barrett and bringing up a steady stream of youngsters from the minor leagues.And then the confidence built."Once we realized how good we were, it took off," outfielder Cliff Floyd said. "In my opinion, we've got the best 25 going into this thing. It's not etched in stone for us. We've got to play it and go out there and be ready. It's an emotional bunch, and that's a good thing."Cubs 6, Reds 0
At the plate: Alfonso Soriano led off the game with his 32nd homer of the year. It's the 11th time he's led off the first inning with a homer this year and the sixth time in September, setting a major-league record for one month. Derrek Lee hit his 22nd, a 2-run shot in the fifth.In the field: Soriano recorded his 19th outfield assist, gunning down Joey Votto at the plate. It's the most assists by a Cubs outfielder since Hank Sauer in 1951.On the mound: Carlos Zambrano improved to 18-13 by tossing 6 shutout innings for the second consecutive start. Zambrano gave up 6 hits while walking one and striking out four. He has the last 2 "quality starts" for the Cubs. Bob Howry and Ryan Dempster finished for the Cubs.subid=0tmpid=1826RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fphobos.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewAlbum%253Fi%253D4510291%2526id%253D4510403%2526s%253D143441%2526partnerId%253D30">Download "Go Cubs Go" by Steve Goodman at iTunes 441512Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano clenches his fist as he walks of the field in the fifth inning Friday.Associated Press 512402Cubs teammates engulf Mark DeRosa after his game-winning hit during Monday's game against Cincinnati at Wrigley Field in Chicago.Rick West | Staff Photographer