Cardinals Clinch Another NL Central Title

CHICAGO - The St. Louis Cardinals clinched their second consecutive National League Central title Thursday — their fourth in six seasons — and did it the way they have done everything this year: behind Chris Carpenter.

Carpenter won his league-leading 21st game, working seven strong innings against the Chicago Cubs as the Cardinals finished the job at Wrigley Field, of all places, in front of thousands of red-clad fans who made the trip.

"It's always special to do it here," manager Tony La Russa said, careful as ever to credit the next opponent. "This club has been steady since April. You don't win 98 games by accident."

The Cardinals have run away with the division since early summer, built on the league's best pitching staff and a lineup that grinds out runs without a 50-homer star. They will open the postseason at home and enter October as the National League favorite — carrying the weight of last year's World Series sweep by Boston.

Houston, meanwhile, kept its edge in the wild-card race despite a loss, while Philadelphia and Florida stayed within two games. The Astros' late push has been built on Roger Clemens, whose 1.89 ERA leads the league at age 43.

In the American League, the East remains the fight of the season. Boston and New York were separated by a half-game entering the weekend, with the loser facing a wild-card fight against Cleveland — the Indians having won 13 of 15 to crash what looked like a two-team race.

Chicago's White Sox, who led their division by 15 games in early August, watched the margin shrink to single digits this week and were hearing the word "collapse" for the first time all season.

The regular season ends Oct. 2; the playoffs open the following week, with the Cardinals already assured of home-field advantage through the National League bracket.