CHICAGO -- Miles Mikolas outpitched Cole Hamels with eight sparkling innings, and the St. Louis Cardinals stayed alive in the playoff race by topping the Chicago Cubs 2-1 on Saturday.
The Cardinals needed a win plus a loss by Los Angeles at San Francisco to stay in the running for a wild card. The Cubs -- already assured a franchise-record fourth straight trip to the postseason -- needed a win plus a loss by second-place Milwaukee to Detroit on Saturday night to clinch their third NL Central title in a row.