No St. Louis clinching for Chicago Cubs
ST. LOUIS - The talk the last few days has been whether the Chicago Cubs would prefer to clinch the National League Central this week in St. Louis or at home over the weekend.
Given the torment the Cardinals have been to the Cubs over the years, fans might have found it cathartic for their team to clinch at Busch Stadium.
The point became moot Tuesday night when the Cardinals got 2-run homers from Aledmys Diaz and Brandon Moss against Cubs starting pitcher Jason Hammel to score a 4-2 victory and keep the Cubs' magic number at 3. The best the Cubs can do now is clinch at least a tie for the division crown with a victory in Wednesday afternoon's series finale.
The clincher then could come as early as the Thursday-Sunday series at Wrigley Field against the Milwaukee Brewers.
"I think it will be a little more special that way as well," said Cubs shortstop Addison Russell, who notched his 91st RBI in Tuesday's loss. "With the season that we're having and how many Cub fans there are to support us, I think that would be some pretty good justice right there."
Infielder-outfielder Ben Zobrist grew up in Eureka, Illinois, not far from Peoria and split between Cubs Cardinals supporters.
"I think for the guys who were around when they were getting beat up all those years it probably means a lot to be winning here against this team in St. Louis," Zobrist said. "For those of us who are new to the team, it's still just within the division. You have to take care of business in your division to win the division."
Manager Joe Maddon took his usual tack.
"Honestly, I can sympathize and empathize with the fans," he said. "At the end of the day, and I really want our folks to understand this, it's about the day. It's Tuesday, correct? Take care of Tuesday. Don't worry about stuff like that. And then we'll take care of Wednesday, and that stuff will occur at its proper time.
"If you don't attempt to mess with the particular fate and let it happen organically, I think we'll all be happier. I don't worry about things like that. I love our fans. I think we all do, but just let it happen. And then when it happens, you appropriately celebrate."
Dexter Fowler staked Hammel to a 1-0 lead by opening the game with a home run, his 12th. Russell's RBI double made it 2-0 in the second, when the Cubs chased Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia after only 37 pitches.
The Cardinals tied it on Diaz's 2-run homer off Hammel in the second. Moss hit a 2-run homer in the sixth. Hammel didn't make it out of the inning. He went 5⅔, giving up 6 hits and 4 runs.
"It seems like every time I give up a run, it leaves the yard," said Hammel, who fell to 14-9 with a 3.60 ERA. "I'd like to give up a double or something to drive in a run. Very frustrating."
The Cubs wasted chances against reliever Alex Reyes, who walked six in 4⅓ innings. Cubs batters left the bases loaded in the second and fourth innings.
"Our big problem tonight was not being able to score enough runs," Maddon said. "We had guys on base all night. At the end of the night, you look at the homers, but we had many opportunities to score and did not do it."