Cubs beat Brewers in 12, can clinch Central tonight

The Associated Press

Published Friday, September 19, 2008

Geovany Soto and the Chicago Cubs can almost taste the champagne after one of their sweetest and most improbable victories of the season.

Soto hit a tying three-run homer with two out in the ninth inning, Derrek Lee singled in the winning run in the 12th and Chicago beat the Milwaukee Brewers 7-6 yesterday to move closer to the National League Central title.

The Cubs’ magic number for winning their second straight division championship was reduced to two as they sent the Brewers to a crushing defeat.

"Wow," Soto said. "This year’s been really, really crazy. I’m just here for one reason. I want to win and keep going."

Chicago was trailing 6-2 with two out and nobody on in the ninth, with just three hits to that point, before scoring four runs off closer Salomon Torres.

Now, the Cubs can clinch today if they beat the St. Louis Cardinals at home and the struggling Brewers lose in Cincinnati.

Milwaukee, which began the day just a half-game back of the NL wild card-leading New York Mets, was on the verge of winning two of three at Wrigley Field and restoring some momentum under interim Manager Dale Sveum. Instead, the Brewers have dropped 13 of 17 during a skid that cost Manager Ned Yost his job Monday.

● Phillies 4, Braves 3: Pat Burrell hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the sixth inning and Philadelphia completed an unprecedented sweep of the nine-game season series in Atlanta.

Cole Hamels (14-9) gave up six hits and two runs in six innings to improve to 3-0 in four starts against the Braves this season. Brad Lidge pitched a perfect ninth for his 38th save, including seven against the Braves.

The Phillies remain a half-game ahead of the New York Mets, who beat the Washington Nationals 7-2 behind ace Johan Santana.

● Dodgers 4, Pirates 3 (12 inn.): In Pittsburgh, James Loney’s single scored the go-ahead run in the 12th after Pittsburgh reliever Craig Hansen (1-4) walked the bases full.

The Dodgers withstood two Pittsburgh comebacks for their 15th victory in 18 games and have a 3½-game lead over Arizona in the West.

● Twins 11, Rays 8: Despite giving up five homers in a game for the second time in five days, including three to rookie Evan Longoria, the Twins used a five-run ninth inning to rally.

The win ended a four-game losing streak and coupled with Chicago’s 9-2 loss to New York, it moved the Twins within 1½ games of the first-place White Sox in the American League Central.

The Rays can clinch at least a wild-card playoff berth today if they beat the Twins, and the White Sox, Blue Jays and Yankees all lose. They can also ensure their first postseason berth by winning two of the remaining three games in this series.

● Royals 12, Mariners 0: Zack Greinke (12-10) and two relievers combined on a three-hitter and Mike Aviles hit a three-run homer, helping the Royals complete their first four-game sweep of Seattle in 19 years.

Kansas City led 9-0 after four innings, roughing up Ryan Feierabend (1-4). The Royals had at least 10 hits (13) for the sixth time during a seven-game winning streak, their longest since opening the 2003 season 9-0.

Seattle, which had just five baserunners, extended its losing streak to eight games overall and 10 on the road.