Rizzo's 2 HRs help Cubs beat Cardinals, clinch playoff spot

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ST. LOUIS (AP) _ Anthony Rizzo hit a pair of home runs and Jon Lester pitched

eight dominant innings as the Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-0 on

Wednesday to clinch at least a wild-card playoff berth.



The Cubs improved their MLB-best record to 93-52 and their magic number is one

to clinch their first National League Central title since 2008. Chicago secured

a playoff berth because St. Louis and San Francisco are the only teams that

could pass them in the standings, but since those teams open a four-game series

on Thursday both teams wouldn’t be able to do so.



The Cardinals began the day a half-game behind the New York Mets and a full

game behind the Giants for one of the two wild-card spots.



Lester (17-4) allowed four base runners, none of which got past first. Cubs

catcher David Ross threw out two Cardinals trying to steal second and Lester

faced just two batters over the minimum.



St. Louis starter Carlos Martinez (14-8) gave up four runs and eight hits in

six innings.



St. Louis begins a ten-game road trip Thursday night in San Francisco. Adam

Wainwright (11-8) starts for the Cardinals while Johnny Cueto (15-5) goes for

the Giants. Game time is 9:15 with the pre-game at 8:20 on KTLO-AM.

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