CHICAGO CUBS (99-56) VS. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (81-74) SEPTEMBER 25, 2016

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB Cardinals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 5 0 7 Cubs 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 X 3 8 0 9 Winning : Lester (19-4) Losing Pitcher: Martinez (15-9) Save: Chapman (16)

STARTING GAME INFORMATION Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO WP HR PC/S Left Time of Game: 3:09 Carlos Martinez (L) 6.0 6 2 2 4 6 0 1 107/65 0-2 First Pitch: 7:08 pm Jon Lester (W) 6.2 3 0 0 1 7 0 0 96/61 2-0, 2 on Temperature: 81 Degrees Courtesy of STATS, Inc. Wind: SW 3 mph

HOME RUNS ATTENDANCE INFORMATION Team Batter No. Pitcher Inn. Count Men On Location Today: 40,859 CHI Ross 10 Martinez 5 1-0 0 Left Field Season Total: 3,232,420 # of Wrigley Games: 81 (57-24) Average per Game: 39,906

CHICAGO CUBS

JON LESTER won his N.L.-best 19th game, tying his career-high set previously in 2010 with … the 19 wins are the most by a Cubs lefty since won 22 games in 1963 … he has won a career-high 10-straight games, the longest active streak in … his 2.28 ERA ranks second in the majors.  He improved to 10-0 with a 1.34 ERA (13 ER/87.0 IP) in 13 starts in the season’s second half … is seeking to become the first Cubs pitcher since in 1984 (12-0) to go 10-0 or better in a season’s second half … has gone 7-0 with a 0.64 ERA (4 ER/56.1 IP) in his last eight starts, becoming the first pitcher in Cubs history with eight-straight starts allowing one or zero runs (thanks to Elias/Christopher Kamka).  Recorded his major league-best 21st start allowing one or fewer earned runs, and his seventh scoreless outing.  Finished the season 10-2 with a 1.74 ERA (20 ER/103.1 IP) in 15 home starts, all quality efforts.  Cubs starting pitchers went 44-15 with a 2.25 ERA (129 ER/515.0 IP) at home this season, the best club mark since 1919 (1.98) … thanks STATS Inc.

DAVID ROSS (1-for-2, HR, R, RBI, BB) hit his 10th homer of the season in the fifth , a go-ahead shot … his fourth season with at least 10 homers (also, 2003, 2006 and 2007) … is one of three Cubs players in their age 39-or-older season with at least 10 homers, joining (11 in 1985) and Ernie Banks (12 in 1970).  He is the first player to go at least nine years between double-digit homer campaigns since Dale Sveum, who went 10 years between double-digit campaigns from 1987-1997 … thanks STATS Inc.  The Cubs now have nine players with 10 or more homers, tying the franchise record set last season … the nine players are tied for the most in baseball with Minnesota, Seattle and St. Louis.

BEN ZOBRIST (3-for-4, 2B, 2 R) recorded his 12th three-hit game of the season, tied for tops on the Cubs … has gone 8-for-13 with three walks in his last four games.

ADDISON RUSSELL (1-for-3, 2B, RBI, BB) collected his 94th RBI of the season, tied for the most among with Carlos Correa … finished the season with 62 RBI at home, the most by a Cubs player since Derrek Lee drove in 68 runs at home in 2009.

NOTES: The Cubs set a Wrigley Field franchise record with 57 home wins … marks the club’s most home wins since winning 58 games in 1910 at West Side Grounds … at 57-24 (.704), the Cubs will finish the season with the best home record in the majors and the best mark by any team since the 2011 Brewers also went 57-24.  Combined with the Rangers’ loss today, the Cubs have clinched the best record in baseball for the first time since 1945 and the 12th time in franchise history.  The Cubs won their 99th game, marking the seventh time they have reached at least 99 wins and the first time since going 100-54 in 1935 … since the beginning of last season, the Northsiders have won 196 games, tied for the sixth-most over a two year stretch in club history and the most since winning 196 in 1910-11.  The Cubs claimed the season series over St. Louis (10-9) for the first time since going 9-6 in 2010.  Cubs pitchers struck out 755 batters at home this season, setting a new Wrigley Field record … surpassed the 744 at Wrigley Field by the 2003 Cubs.  The Cubs season attendance of 3,232,420 ranked third in franchise history, surpassed only by the 2007 and 2008 seasons.  (1.0 IP, BB, SO) has not allowed a run in his last 29 games against the Cardinals (29.1 IP), spanning the last five seasons … he has posted a 0.91 ERA (3 ER/29.2 IP) in 30 appearances since the All-Star Break this season.  (1-for-1, RBI) has hit safely in six-straight games (.471/8-for-17) … has RBI in three of his last four games.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

YADIER MOLINA (2-for-4, 2B) extended his hitting streak to 11 games (.436/17-for-39) … has five multi-hit games in his last six contests.

CARLOS MARTINEZ made his career-high 30th start of the season … has allowed two runs or fewer in seven of his last eight starts, posting a 2.65 ERA (15 ER/51.0 IP) during the span … suffered his third loss of the season vs. the Cubs, his most career losses against any opponent in a single season.

NOTES: The Cardinals have dropped three of four games following a four-game winning streak.  Jose Martinez (1-for-3, R, BB) has hit safely in his last four games (.667/4-for-6).