Cubs win NL Central again

The Chicago Cubs clinched the National League Central Division title for the second consecutive year with a 5-4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday afternoon.

Chicago closer Kerry Wood induced Aaron Miles to pop up to centre fielder Jim Edmonds for the final out, to the delight of an announced crowd of 41,597 at Wrigley Field.

It is the first time in 100 years that the Cubs are making consecutive playoff appearances.

"We all want the same thing. You don't have guys who are looking to do anything other than win a championship," said winning pitcher Ted Lilly. "So it's a pretty special thing to be a part of."

Chicago (93-60) has an insurmountable lead over the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central. The Brewers had lost 10 of their last 12 games heading into Saturday.

The hard-luck franchise has not won the World Series since 1908, and the Cubs captured the last of their 16 National League pennants in 1945.

Alfonso Soriano singled with three men on in the bottom of the second and St. Louis left-fielder Brian Barton made an error on the play to clear the bases and give Chicago a 3-0 lead.

Former Toronto Blue Lilly (16-9) earned the win for Chicago in his first start since allowing just one hit against the Houston Astros. Lilly helped his own cause in the fourth with a sacrifice bunt to score Mark DeRosa for a 5-0 lead.

DeRosa had just hit a run-scoring double.

St. Louis rallied furiously and Lilly's one-time Toronto teammate Troy Glaus got to him with a three-run home run in the sixth inning, but the Cardinals could get no closer. It was the 25th home run of the season for Glaus.

Wood, the converted starter, earned his 32nd save for the Cubs.

Lou Pineilla's Chicago club was swept in three games by Arizona in the playoffs last season.