NL roundup: Dodgers, Cardinals clinch playoff spots

PITTSBURGH — The Dodgers locked up their fourth playoff appearance in six years, getting a two-run single from pinch-hitter Jim Thome during a four-run eighth inning in which Pirates relievers walked four before going on to beat Pittsburgh 8-4 on Saturday night.

Manager Joe Torre is headed to the postseason for a record-tying 14th straight time — only the Braves' Bobby Cox has accomplished the feat — after the Dodgers assured themselves of at least a wild-card spot. They also cut their magic number to two for winning the NL West for the second consecutive season. Any combination of Dodgers victories and Rockies losses totaling two will give Los Angeles its first back-to-back division titles since 1977-78.

The Dodgers didn't celebrate on the field, routinely shaking hands as they always do after a victory but otherwise showing no sign this victory was any different from their previous 91.

CARDINALS 6, ROCKIES 3: At Denver, Jason LaRue, subbing at catcher for injured All-Star Yadier Molina, homered off Ubaldo Jimenez to break a seventh-inning tie and St. Louis clinched the NL Central crown when it beat Colorado behind Adam Wainwright's 19th victory. Colorado's lead in the NL wild-card race shrunk to 21/2 games over Atlanta. The Cardinals, the first major league team to win its division, are headed back to the playoffs for the first time since winning the 2006 World Series.

CUBS 6, GIANTS 2: At San Francisco, Aramis Ramirez homered, Jake Fox hit a two-run single and Chicago beat the Giants for their sixth win in seven games. Tom Gorzelanny (7-2) won consecutive starts for the first time all season and his third straight decision, following Carlos Zambrano's two-hit gem a night earlier.

BRAVES 11, NATIONALS 5: At Washington, Tommy Hanson pitched seven innings for his 11th win, Yunel Escobar drove in three runs and the Braves earned their fifth consecutive victory. Atlanta pulled within 21/2 games of NL wild card-leading Colorado.

BREWERS 7, PHILLIES 5: At Milwaukee, Ryan Braun hit a two-run homer off reliever Tyler Walker in the ninth inning, giving Milwaukee a victory over Philadelphia. It was Braun's 30th home run of the season.

MARLINS 9, METS 6: At Miami, injury replacement Cameron Maybin hit a three-run homer in Florida's seven-run fifth and the Marlins rallied to beat New York.

REDS 10, ASTROS 4: At Houston, Jay Bruce and Laynce Nix homered and drove in three runs apiece, helping Cincinnati beat Houston for its sixth consecutive win.

DIAMONDBACKS 8, PADRES 5: At Phoenix, seldom-used Chad Tracy snapped an 0-for-18 slump with a pinch-hit grand slam in the seventh inning, sending Daniel Schlereth to his first major league win in Arizona's victory over San Diego.