Early outburst sets tone in Cards' clincher

ST. LOUIS -- The Cardinals knew what was at stake going into Sunday’s game against the Cubs at Busch Stadium.

So the Cardinals wasted no time grabbing the lead early and kept their foot on the gas in a 9-0 win that gave St. Louis its first National League Central title since 2015 and set up an NL Division Series showdown with the Braves.

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The Cardinals pounced on Cubs left-hander Derek Holland and scored two runs in the first inning. In the second, Jack Flaherty -- who threw seven scoreless innings -- hit a two-out single before Dexter Fowler crushed his career-high 19th home run of the season.

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Matt Carpenter launched a three-run home run in the third, and Paul Goldschmidt added a solo shot in the fourth to put the Cardinals up, 9-0.