Oct 13, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; The Chicago Cubs celebrate after defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 6-4 in game four of the NLDS at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports
CHICAGO — Anthony Rizzo struck a go-ahead solo homer in the sixth inning, and four Cubs relievers shut down the St. Louis Cardinals over the final three innings as Chicago advanced to the National League Championship Series with a 6-4 victory Tuesday.
The Cubs won their third straight, taking three of four from the NL Central champion Cardinals in the best-of-five NL Division Series.
Chicago will meet either the New York Mets or the Los Angeles Dodgers in its first NLCS appearance since a seven-game loss to the then-Florida Marlins in 2003.
With two outs in the sixth, Rizzo, the Cubs first baseman who went 2-for-4, sent an 0-2 pitch from left-handed reliever Kevin Siegrist to the right field bleachers for a 5-4 Cubs lead.
Cubs reliever Trevor Cahill (1-0) earned the win after working a one-run sixth.
Chicago relievers Fernando Rodney and Clayton Richard combined to blank St. Louis in the seventh. Pedro Strop struck out two in a 1-2-3 eighth, and fellow right-hander Hector Rondon allowed a baserunner but no runs in a scoreless ninth for the save.
Siegrist (0-1) allowed two runs on two hits — solo homers to Rizzo and left fielder Kyle Schwarber in 1 2/3 innings.
The Cardinals claimed a 2-0 lead just four pitches into the game.
Third baseman Matt Carpenter singled to right off Cubs right-hander Jason Hammel. First baseman Stephen Piscotty then launched first-pitch, two-run homer to center.
The homer was Piscotty’s third of the postseason.
The Cubs grabbed their first lead during a four-run second.
Hammel got one run back, bouncing an RBI a single up the middle with two outs to score second baseman Starlin Castro from second.
Shortstop Javier Baez, filling in for injured Addison Russell, launched a three-run homer to right center to bring home Schwarber and Hammel.
Hammel lasted three-plus innings, pulled for right-hander Justin Grimm after walking Jhonny Peralta to open the Cardinals fourth.
Grimm put two runners on in his one-inning appearance but struck out pinch hitter Tommy Pham to end a threat. Hammel allowed two runs on three hits, walked three and strike out two.
Pham’s at-bat meant also marked the end for Cardinals starter John Lackey, who worked three innings and allowed four runs on four hits while walking one and striking out five.
He was replaced by Adam Wainwright, making his third postseason relief appearance.
Cahill, the fourth Cubs pitcher, let in two sixth-inning runs as the Cardinals forced a 4-4 tie.
Catcher Tony Cruz doubled down the right field line with two outs to bring home right fielder Jason Heyward. Pinch hitter Brandon Moss then singled to right to score Peralta.
However, Cubs right fielder Jorge Soler prevented a go-ahead run as he gunned down Cruz at the plate on a perfect throw to catcher Miguel Montero for the tag.
Rizzo’s go-ahead homer in the sixth was his second of the postseason.
In the seventh, Kyle Schwarber added an insurance run with a leadoff solo homer off Siegrist that landed outside right field on Sheffield Ave.
His third postseason homer came on a 1-2 pitch and gave Chicago a 6-4 lead.
NOTES: The NL Championship Series will open Saturday, with the New York Mets or Los Angeles Dodgers playing host to the Cubs. … Cardinals C Yadier Molina was a late scratch Tuesday due to a sore thumb. “There was considerable weakness in his thumb,” manager Mike Matheny said. Backup C Tony Cruz went 1-for-4 with an RBI double. … Chicago C Miguel Montero credits the presence of retired big-leaguer Manny Ramirez with aiding the Cubs young Latin players. “He’s been amazing, not only about hitting but about different scenarios in the game,” Montero said. … Manager Joe Maddon singled out the Cubs scouts and minor league staffers for praise before Tuesday’s game. “They put in so much time that’s never recognized,” he said.
