Cubs Move on to NLDS

Yesterday, the Cubs faced off against their divisional rival, the Pittsburgh Pirates in the NL Wild Card Game.  Not only was a divisional game, it was a battle between the teams with the second and third best records in all of the Majors.  Yes, that is how tough the National League Central was this year, with the St.Louis Cardinals winning 100 games.

It started it in the top of the first when Dexter Fowler hit a single and stole second, and rookie Kyle Schwarber hit a bloop single the opposite field. It turned out that was all that the Cubs and Jake Arrieta would need.  But they weren't done.  In the bottom of the third with Fowler on First, and Kyle Schwarber pulled a bomb down the right field line that landed in the Allegheny River to make it 3-0.  With Arrieta on the mound, that was pretty much game over.    

But, Fowler hit a solo shot in the fifth to make it 4-0.  Then, in the bottom of the sixth with the bases loaded, the Pirates hit into a double play to end the inning.

Later, Pirates reliever Tony Watson beaned Arrieta, and the benches were cleared.  The only person who got ejected from the game was Sean Rodriguez, who later took it out on a Gatorade cooler.  

With two outs in the ninth, Fransisco Cervelli lined out to second baseman Starlin Castro to end the game. That gave the Cubs their first playoff win since the 2003 NLCS against the Florida Marlins in game four, and we all know how that ended.  It was also just their first playoff game since 2008.

But there is a new sense of hope for Cubs fans like me.  This win sets up the first ever playoff meeting between the Cubs and the Cardinals. Whoever wins this series, should be the favorite to come out of the National League to play in the World Series.