Jason Heyward is greeted at home plate after his grand slam (photo/MLB)
The St. Louis Cardinals clinched the Central Division by defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-1 in the second of two games. The party was delayed after the Cardinals dropped the afternoon contest 8-2.
This is the Cardinals’ third straight division title and ninth since 2000.
The victory also gave the club 100 wins for the fourth time since 1985.
Jason Heyward hit a grand slam in the third inning to open up a 6-0 lead. Heyward went 3-for-4 on the night. Matt Carpenter went 2-for-3 and Jhonny Peralta drove in three runs.
1931, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1967, 1985, 2004, 2005, 2015 are the 100+ win seasons for the Cardinals who won the World Series four of those seasons.
The Cardinals will face the winner of the one-game Wild Card between Pittsburgh and Chicago, by virtue of having the best National League record.