The Cubs completed a remarkable second-half surge Wednesday night when they scored five runs in the seventh inning Wednesday night to beat the rival Cardinals 5-1 at Busch Stadium to take their second consecutive National League Central title and advance to the playoffs for the third straight season.
Addison Russell smacked a three-run homer off Michael Wacha to highlight the five-run outburst and help the Cubs overcome a 1-0 deficit.
After Russell’s homer, Baez and Jason Heyward and Tommy La Stella doubled to pad the lead.
On the mound: John Lackey pitched one of his best games of the season, limiting the Cardinals to two hits in six innings.
Lackey struck out Dexter Fowler on an 85-mph slider to end the first and retired the final 10 batters he faced.
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