HARRISON BADER

Chris Taylor hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Los Angeles Dodgers over the St. Louis Cardinals 3-1 in a scintillating NL wild-card game.

Cardinals Cubs Baseball St. Louis Cardinals' Harrison Bader, left, celebrates after hitting a solo home run as Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras looks up during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) (Nam Y. Huh)CHICAGO — (AP) — Make it a very sweet 16 for the St. Louis Cardinals. Next up is a three-game series against NL Central champion Milwaukee beginning on Tuesday night in St. Louis. St. Louis jumped in front on another Goldschmidt drive, a massive solo shot to center off Keegan Thompson with one out in the third. Cubs: RHP Alec Mills (6-7, 4.83 ERA) starts Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game series at Pittsburgh.

Make it a very sweet 16 for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Cardinals Cubs Baseball St. Louis Cardinals outfielders Lars Nootbaar, right, and Harrison Bader (48) celebrate after defeating the Chicago Cubs 8-5 in a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Chicago. Bader went 4 for 4 with a home run as the Cardinals beat the Cubs 8-5 Saturday. The Cardinals date their history to 1892, when they were known as the Browns and joined the National League. Stanton also had three hits and a three-run homer Friday night to help the Yankees win the series opener. Freddy Peralta (9-5, 2.65 ERA) faces New York, which has lost four in a row and 12 of 15.

Fresh off setting a franchise record with their 15th straight win, Harrison Bader and the St. Louis Cardinals try to finish off a sweep of the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Sunday.

Cardinals Cubs Baseball St. Louis Cardinals' Harrison Bader (48) celebrates with teammate Paul DeJong (11) after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty) (Paul Beaty)CHICAGO — (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals set a franchise record with their 15th straight win, boosted when catcher Yadier Molina and center fielder Harrison Bader helped pull off a wild double play Saturday in an 8-5 win over the Chicago Cubs. Far back in the playoff race heading into September, St. Louis moved closer to clinching a spot by extending its extraordinary streak. Cardinals lefty Jon Lester allowed three earned runs in five innings in his first start against his former team since he was traded to St. Louis in July. Lester then walked Happ for a 4-2 Cubs lead.

The St. Louis Cardinals set a franchise record with their 15th straight win, boosted when catcher Yadier Molina and center fielder Harrison Bader helped pull off a wild double play in an 8-5 win over the Chicago Cubs.

Harrison Bader and the St. Louis Cardinals clearly recognize their record is impressive. The Cardinals set a franchise mark with their 15th straight win, boosted when catcher Yadier Molina and center fielder Bader helped pull off a wild double play Saturday in an 8-5 win over the Chicago Cubs. “It’s hard to do something in this organization that’s never been done,” manager Mike Shildt said.

Cardinals Cubs Baseball St. Louis Cardinals' Harrison Bader celebrates his home run off Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Adam Morgan in front of the Chicago Cubs bench during the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, in Chicago. St. Louis swept a doubleheader from Chicago on Friday, equaling a 14-game run by the team in July 1935. The winning streak has rocketed the Cardinals into control of the second NL wild card, leading Philadelphia by five games. Left-hander Jon Lester (7-6, 4.59 ERA) is slated to pitch for St. Louis against Chicago right-hander Adrian Sampson (3-3, 2.84). Semien equaled Minnesota’s Brian Dozier (2016) and St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby (1922).

The surging Cardinals will try for a franchise-record 15th consecutive win in a game at Wrigley Field.

Cardinals Cubs Baseball St. Louis Cardinals' Harrison Bader celebrates his home run off Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Adam Morgan in front of the Chicago Cubs bench during the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, in Chicago. The winning streak has rocketed the Cardinals into control of the second NL wild card, leading Philadelphia by five games. WILD CHASEThe Yankees and Red Sox continue a three-game set at Fenway Park with huge postseason implications. New York beat Boston 8-3 on Friday night to pull within a game of the Red Sox for the top AL wild card. The three-time Cy Young Award winner has allowed two runs and struck out 13 over 9 1/3 innings since missing more than two months with inflammation in his left elbow.

The surging Cardinals will try for a franchise-record 15th consecutive win in a game at Wrigley Field.

The surging St. Louis Cardinals soared to their 13th straight win, using homers by Paul Goldschmidt and Tyler O’Neill to top the Chicago Cubs 8-5 in the opener of a doubleheader.

The surging St. Louis Cardinals emphatically matched a team record with their 14th straight wint, pounding the Chicago Cubs 12-4 in the second game of doubleheader behind Tyler O’Neill’s three-run homer and a pair of solo shots by Lars Nootbaar.

Paul Goldschmidt and Tyler O’Neill homered as the St. Louis Cardinals won their 11th straight game, extending their lead for the second NL wild-card spot and beating the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers 10-2.

Cardinals Mets Baseball St. Louis Cardinals' Harrison Bader (48) celebrates with Paul Goldschmidt (46) after Goldschmidt hit a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021, in New York. They dropped five games behind St. Louis, with three teams in between. St. Louis still hopes the front-line starter (9-2, 3.08 ERA) can offer something in relief at some point this year. St. Louis also will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its 2011 World Series championship this weekend. Mets: RHP Taijuan Walker (7-9, 4.29 ERA) pitches Friday night at Citi Field against ex-Met Zack Wheeler (13-9, 2.86) and the Phillies.

Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado each hit one of St. Louis’ four homers, and the Cardinals flashed some fantastic outfield defense in beating the New York Mets 11-4 for their fifth straight victory.

Adam Wainwright won his fifth straight start in a rare matchup of 40-year-old pitchers, and the St. Louis Cardinals blanked the New York Mets 7-0.

Daniel Vogelbach delivered a pinch-hit grand slam off Alex Reyes to cap a five-run rally in the ninth inning that gave the Milwaukee Brewers a 6-5 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

San Francisco right-hander Kevin Gausman had his no-hit bid ended by St. Louis slugger Nolan Arenado’s one-out single to left.

Max Kranick pitched five perfect innings in his major league debut before a 64-minute rain delay forced him from the game, and the Pittsburgh Pirates went on to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-2.

Lucas Giolito beat Jack Flaherty in a major league matchup of former high school teammates, leading the Chicago White Sox to an 8-3 victory over the sloppy St. Louis Cardinals.

White Sox manager Tony La Russa wound up a winner in his first game against the team that ensured his Hall of Fame induction as Chicago beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-1 behind Lance Lynn’s arm and Andrew Vaughn’s bat.

Joe Musgrove got through five innings for his first victory since throwing a no-hitter on April 9, and San Diego beat St. Louis 5-4 in the first meeting between the teams since the Padres eliminated the Cardinals from the playoffs last year.

Taijuan Walker allowed one hit in seven innings, the Mets scored three runs on bases-loaded walks and beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1 on Thursday.

Mets Cardinals Baseball St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Monday, May 3, 2021, in St. Louis. After the game, the Mets fired hitting coach Chili Davis and assistant hitting coach Tom Slater. Several accomplished hitters are off to slow starts for the Mets, including $341 million newcomer Francisco Lindor. Wainwright (1-3) had been out because of virus contact tracing. Paul DeJong and Tyler O’Neill followed with doubles to put St. Louis ahead.

Adam Wainwright came off the COVID-19 injured list and hung tough, St. Louis got a lights-out performance from its bullpen and the Cardinals beat the New York Mets 6-5 for their fifth straight win.

Nick Castellanos stood over, flexed and jawed at St. Louis pitcher Jake Woodford after scoring, stetting off a series of scuffles that included relievers shoving in the outfield as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Cardinals 9-6.

(AP Photo/Gregory Bull)SAN DIEGO – Fernando Tatis Jr. had been waiting for a breakout game, and boy did “El Niño” get it. Wil Myers also homered twice and Manny Machado connected, but Tatis — with his signature exuberance and flair — was the one who carried the party at empty Petco Park. It was the 23rd comeback win of 2020 for the close-knit Padres, who have pushed each other all year. “I feel like we needed that big swing for the entire team to get us going," Tatis said of his first homer. It was the Padres’ first postseason win at Petco Park, which opened in 2004.

(AP Photo/Gregory Bull)SAN DIEGO – Given a chance to catch their breath after a crazy month and a half, the St. Louis Cardinals settled into the playoffs with yet another win against the San Diego Padres. San Diego native Tommy Edman singled and Goldschmidt homered to left. Dylan Carlson doubled, 38-year-old Yadier Molina hit an RBI single and Paul DeJong doubled before Matt Carpenter hit a sacrifice fly. Kim allowed Eric Hosmer’s sac fly in the first, Aaron Nola’s sac fly in the second and Tommy Pham’s RBI single in the third. Dexter Fowler hit an RBI single in the ninth off Trevor Rosenthal, who started his big league career with the Cardinals.

Members of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrate after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers in a baseball game to earn a playoff birth Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in St. Louis. “We’d have been happy getting in as the eight seed,” Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said. Paul Goldschmidt and Paul DeJong each added RBI singles to push the St. Louis lead to 4-0. Cardinals: St. Louis president of baseball operations John Mozeliak announced that RHP Dakota Hudson will have Tommy John surgery on his right elbow Monday. Cardinals: This will be the fourth postseason series between St. Louis and San Diego, who faced each other in 1996, 2005, and 2006 in the Division Series.

Playing its first game since July 29, St. Louis looked much sharper than Chicago while improving to 3-3 on the season. Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright (2-0) pitched five innings of one-run ball in his second start of the year. The White Sox finished with just three hits two for Danny Mendick and never recovered after Lucas Giolito (1-2) got off to a shaky start. White Sox: RHP Reynaldo Lpez (shoulder soreness) threw Friday and is scheduled for another session Monday. Cardinals right-hander Dakota Hudson (0-1, 8.31 ERA) and White Sox left-hander Dallas Keuchel (2-2, 3.04 ERA) get the ball for the series finale Sunday.

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton (17) argues with home plate umpire Jordan Baker during the third inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Sunday, July 26, 2020, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)ST. LOUIS Pittsburgh's Derek Shelton staged baseball's first major, socially distanced umpire argument, then got his first victory as a big league manager as the Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-1 on Sunday. Keller (1-0) faced St. Louis for the first time in his career. Cardinals RHP Kodi Whitley also made his major league debut in a relief appearance in the top seventh. Cardinals: RHP Carlos Martinez (4-2, 3.17 ERA, 24 saves in 2019) makes his first start for the Cardinals since July 30, 2018, Tuesday in Minnesota against the Twins to start a seven-game road trip.