Cubs Beat Cardinals, White Sox Blank Indians

By ESPN

David Ross got fired up when Cubs manager Joe Maddon walked to the mound with two out in the seventh inning, ready to argue for Jon Lester to stay in the game.

Maddon and Lester had a different plan.

"Joe looked at him and said `Have you ever been a part of where the catcher gets taken out of the game before the pitcher?" Lester said, describing the scene with a big grin. "You can just see him, it's like the kid at the candy store when you tell him he can pick out whatever he wants.

"It was just like the disbelief in his face and slams his mask back over his face and all he can say is `I love you guys. I love you guys. I love you guys."

Ross then walked off to another standing ovation from a raucous crowd of 40,859 at Wrigley Field, part of a heartwarming Sunday night for the backup catcher in his last season. He also hit his 10th homer and teamed with Lester for another scoreless performance, helping the Cubs to a 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

"It was an amazing night," Ross said.

Ben Zobrist had three hits and scored two runs as Chicago finished with a major league-best 57-24 home record. It's the most home wins for the Cubs since they went 58-19 at the West Side Grounds in 1910.

The Cardinals lost for the third time in four games, wasting a chance to improve their playoff positioning. They remain a half-game back of San Francisco for the second NL wild card after the Giants lost 4-3 at San Diego earlier in the day.

"I think we're in a good position right now," pitcher Carlos Martinez said through a translator. "I also think we have a great shot at winning the World Series."

Ross, Lester's regular catcher, was greeted with a long standing ovation when he came to the plate in the second inning. St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina walked halfway to the mound, forcing the unassuming Ross to take in the moment, and he took off his batting helmet to acknowledge the cheering crowd.

Ross then struck out, but he got another chance in the fifth and drove Martinez's second pitch over the wall in left for 1-0 lead. Ross clapped his hands as he rounded first on his 10th homer and the cheers continued after he reached the dugout, prompting a curtain call.

"It was just fitting that David would hit a home run, isn't it?" Maddon said. "I mean it had to have happened tonight."

White Sox 3, Indians 0

The Indians silently packed their bags for the road. The party was postponed again.

With a chance to clinch its first AL Central title since 2007, Cleveland was shut out 3-0 on Sunday by the Chicago White Sox, who got eight dominant innings from Carlos Rodon and spoiled the Indians' home finale.

Disappointment could be sensed in every corner of Cleveland's clubhouse as players stripped off uniforms that remained dry instead of being drenched with champagne.

Like the bottles of bubbly, the championship remains on ice.

"You want to do it in front of the home crowd," second baseman Jason Kipnis said. "It would have been fun to give high-fives down the line, all that stuff, but we'll push it back until tomorrow in Detroit, hopefully."

Rodon struck (8-10) struck out a career-high 11 and blanked the Indians on just two singles. The left-hander easily handled the division leaders who still haven't wrapped up a playoff spot and have gone flat at the worst time possible. Cleveland needed to win its regular-season finale at home and Detroit to lose to Kansas City for the Indians to win the division crown.

The Tigers lost 12-9 to the Royals, but the Indians didn't do their part. They've clinched a share of the title, and now they'll try to win it outright on the road against the Tigers, whom they've beaten 13 times in 15 games this season. The clubs open a four-game series Monday at Comerica Park.

Sunday, September 25 Scoreboard

Toronto 4, New York Yankees 3

Chicago White Sox 3, Cleveland 0

Kansas City 12, Detroit 9

New York Mets 17, Philadelphia 0

Boston 3, Tampa Bay 2 (F/10)

Baltimore 2, Arizona 1

Washington 10, Pittsburgh 7

Cincinnati 4, Milwaukee 2

Seattle 4, Minnesota 3

Houston 4, Los Angeles Angels 1

Oakland 7, Texas 1

Los Angeles Dodgers 4, Colorado 3 (F/10)

San Diego 4, San Francisco 3

Chicago Cubs 3, St. Louis 1

Monday, Sseptember 26 Schedule (All Times Central)

Arizona at Washington, 6:05 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh, 6:05 p.m.

New York Yankees at Toronto, 6:07 p.m.

Cleveland at Detroit, 6:10 p.m.

New York Mets at Miami 6:10 p.m.

Milwaukee at Texas, 7:05 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Chicago White Sox, 7:10 p.m.

Seattle at Houston, 7:10 p.m.

Cincinnati at St. Louis, 7:15 p.m.

Oakland at Los Angeles Angels, 9:05 p.m.