Cardinals Celebration Closer, Cubs Edge Royals In 11th

The celebration the St. Louis Cardinals have been chasing all year is closer than ever. One sobering moment on Monday night, however, provided a harsh reality check.

The Cardinals drew closer to a third straight NL Central title on Monday night with a 3-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, a triumph dimmed by a frightening collision between outfielders Stephen Piscotty and Peter Bourjos in the seventh that ended with Piscotty in the hospital.

Piscotty and Bourjos were tracking a fly ball to the gap in left-center by Pittsburgh's Josh Harrison when Bourjos' left knee slammed into a diving Piscotty's head. Bourjos made the catch while his rookie teammate lay motionless on the grass at PNC Park.

Piscotty was strapped to a backboard and carted off, his head bloodied, though he managed to raise his left hand before disappearing into a tunnel. The Cardinals said tests on Piscotty were negative. He was expected to remain in the hospital overnight for observation.

"It puts a lot of things in perspective," Bourjos said. "The game at that point for me didn't seem all that important. It was just making sure Stephen was all right and hopefully he is OK."

St. Louis recovered in time to reduce its magic number to clinch a third straight NL Central title to two after getting to Pittsburgh closer Mark Melancon (3-2). The Cardinals can wrap up the division crown with a win in Pittsburgh on Tuesday night.

Cubs 1, Royals 0

Chris Denorfia is a senior citizen in a clubhouse filled with youngsters. The veteran felt like one of the kids Monday night. Denorfia hit a pinch-hit home run leading off the bottom of the 11th inning to give the Chicago Cubs a 1-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals.

"It's just the best feeling," he said. "You feel like a little kid again. I'm 35-years-old and just running around the bases and knowing what's waiting for you at home is really, really special."

Denorfia hit the first pitch from reliever Miguel Almonte (0-2) into the left-field bleacher for the Cubs' major league-leading 13th game-ending victory of the season. Denorfia has had one other career walk-off homer that came on July 29, 2013 while playing for San Diego.

Fernando Rodney (2-0) pitched a scoreless top of the 11th to get the win.

The Cubs trail the Pittsburgh Pirates by 3 1/2 games in the race for the top wild-card spot in the National League.

Monday, September 28 Scoreboard

Washington 5, Cincinnati 1

St. Louis 3, Pittsburgh 0

Toronto 4, Baltimore 3

Boston 5, New York Yankees 1

Minnesota 4, Cleveland 2

Detroit 7, Texas 4

Chicago Cubs 1, Kansas City 0 (F/11)

Los Angeles Angels 5, Oakland 4

Houston 3, Seattle 2

San Francisco 3, Los Angeles Dodgers 2 (F/12)

Tuesday, September 29 Schedule (All Times Central)

Boston at New York, 6:00 p.m.

Toronto at Baltimore, 6:05 p.m.

New York at Philadelphia, 6:05 p.m.

St. Louis at Pittsburgh, 6:05 p.m.

Minnesota at Cleveland, 6:10 p.m.

Washington at Atlanta, 6:10 p.m.

Chicago at Cincinnati, 6:10 p.m.

Miami at Tampa Bay, 6:10 p.m.

Detroit at Texas, 7:05 p.m.

Kansas City at Chicago, 7:10 p.m.

Colorado at Arizona, 8:40 p.m.

Oakland at Los Angeles, 9:00 p.m.

Houston at Seattle, 9:10 p.m.

Milwaukee at San Diego, 9:10 p.m.

Los Angeles at San Francisco, 9:15 p.m.