Cubs clinch 1st NL Central title since 2008

The Chicago Cubs celebrated their first division title since 2008 in anticlimactic fashion.

Hours after the Brewers spoiled Chicago's chance to clinch in front of its fans at Wrigley Field, the best team in the majors still secured its first National League Central crown in eight seasons with some help from the San Francisco Giants, who defeated the St. Louis Cardinals late Thursday at AT&T Park.

It's just the fourth time - and first since 2007-08 - the Cubs (93-53) have advanced to the playoffs in consecutive seasons. Chicago was swept by the New York Mets in last year's NLCS after winning 97 regular-season games.

"This is just the first step," Cubs manager Joe Maddon told reporters after Thursday's 5-4 loss, in lieu of a late-night clinch. "We have much larger baseball fish to fry in our skillet."

Cubs players said they wouldn't wait around for the conclusion of the Giants-Cardinals game because of Friday's 1:20 p.m. CST start time.

"The reality is I don’t care what happens (to the Cardinals)," said catcher Miguel Montero. "I want to come back tomorrow and win a game and celebrate on our own."

With more than two weeks and 16 games to play in the regular season, the Cubs became the quickest to clinch (146 games) since the 2008 Angels wrapped up their division in 145 games.

The Giants' 6-2 victory, meanwhile, moved them within four games of first place in the NL West after the Dodgers lost to the Diamondbacks.