In the ninth inning, the Cardinals win again against the Cubs to score a 4-2 victory. (0:47).
CHICAGO -- Harrison Bader and Paul Goldschmidt homered, and the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Chicago Cubs 4-2 Sunday. This was their 16th consecutive win.
This streak is the longest in franchise history, and it has made the National League wild card race a non-story in September. The No. 2 spot has not been clinched by the Cardinals yet. They are currently at the No. 2 spot, but they are well ahead of the rest and plan to face the Los Angeles Dodgers (or the San Francisco Giants) next week in a wild-card matchup.
This streak is also the longest in major leagues since Cleveland took 22 consecutive games in 2017 and the best in National League since 1951 when the New York Giants won 16 consecutive games in order to win an unlikely pennant.
Jake Woodford gave up six hits and two earned runs over 5.1 innings. There was enough room for four relievers in the final innings to complete the game. Genesis Cabrera (4-5), who threw two outs and one walk, won the game in under an inning.
Woodford stated that he was simply trying to do his job and go out on the field. "It's been a great representation of trying to be as clean as possible during this streak," Woodford said.
When the Cubs won, the Cardinals were tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth. Andrew Knizner scored on a wild pitch and Lars Nootbaar added an insurance run with a groundout.
Knizner said after the game that they were just playing Cardinal baseball. "And that's nine innings."
Woodford agreed.
He said, "We don't feel out of it."
Late-inning drama was indeed in their favor at Wrigley Field, the Cardinals' second win in two days. The Cardinals won a dramatic 8-5 win on Saturday.
Power has been a main storyline throughout the streak. Sunday was no exception. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Goldschmidt's 464-foot homer was his seventh career record of over 460 feet and second season in that category.
Knizner stated, "The way that we've been playing has been, over these 16 games, we have been battling from the first pitch until the last pitch." "As long we're playing in a game, we feel like we're there."
During this streak, the Cardinals have scored 31 home runs. Only the 2017 Indians were the other team to score as many home runs in 16 games.
St. Louis closed the weekend with a six game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, and a second spot in the National League wildcard. To start a series against the Milwaukee Brewers, Adam Wainwright (13-7, 3.05 ERA) will be sent out by the Cardinals.
"That's why you play is to win and play in October. Woodford stated that everyone in the clubhouse believes they can achieve this. "But there is still work to do."
This report was contributed by The Associated Press.
