Diamondbacks advance!

[BronxBomberz]

While much of the baseball world was still trying to figure out how they got into the playoffs, Arizona completed a three-game sweep of the Cubs in the National League Division Series with a 5-1 win Saturday night. The D-backs now await the winner of the Rockies-Phillies series, but they know they will be at home Thursday and Friday night for the first two games of the NLCS regardless.
Chris Young, who had nine leadoff homers during the regular season, got Saturday's contest off on the right foot when he hit the first pitch of the game into the left-field bleachers. Justin Upton added an RBI single later in the inning to give Arizona a 2-0 lead.
The D-backs added a run in the fourth when Eric Byrnes narrowly beat out the throw to first on an attempted double-play ball. That allowed Miguel Montero to score and gave the D-backs a 3-0 lead.
Meanwhile, Livan Hernandez did another impersonation of Houdini on the mound as he pitched his way into and out of trouble throughout his six innings of work.
Hernandez, who may have been rusty after a nine-day layoff, gave the Cubs plenty of chances in the early innings, but it wasn't until the fourth that they took advantage, and even then, they left some runs on the table.
Mark DeRosa led off the fourth with a single to center and went to third when Jacque Jones doubled to right-center. Jason Kendall then grounded out to short, which allowed DeRosa to score.
But that was all the Cubs could muster in that inning, as Hernandez got pinch-hitter Mike Fontenot to ground out and Alfonso Soriano to fly to left to end the inning.
Chicago loaded the bases with one out in the fifth, but Hernandez was able to get DeRosa to ground into an inning-ending double play.
The D-backs tacked on a run in the sixth when Byrnes hit a solo homer off Carlos Marmol. Byrnes had not had a great series to that point, having gone 1-for-10.
Stephen Drew added a solo homer in the top of the ninth for insurance.
Jose Valverde pitched the ninth to earn his second save of the series.
Cubs starter Rich Hill (0-1) took the loss after giving up three runs on six hits over three innings.

The Official Site of Major League Baseball: News: Major League Baseball News

[BuckFoston]

Wow congrats to the Arizona Diamondbacks. They are an amazing club and I love watching them play.

[777rak]

oh yea!!! 4 wins away from going to the world serries.


Phiiles/Rockies see you at Arizona on the 11th

[777rak]

Brandon Webb (right) and the Diamondbacks celebrate their trip to the NLCS. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)

8 Wins to go to get a Championship

[nyjunc]

Congrats D-Back fans!

[brewersfan19]

Congrats to the Diamondbacks! Good Luck in the NLCS!!