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NLDS Game 4: Cubs power past Cardinals, advance to NLCS

Maybe "Back to the Future II" was right? The Chicago Cubs bats came alive Tuesday, giving the club a 6-4 win over the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals. With the win, the Cubs move on to the NLCS. It's the Cubs' first trip to the NLCS since 2003 and the first time they've ever clinched a postseason series at Wrigley Field. Boy, were the fans excited.

As expected, picking up the victory wasn't easy. The Cardinals jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a Stephen Piscotty home run in the first inning. In the second, the Cubs battled back. Jason Hammel helped his own cause, picking up an RBI single. Then, Javier Baez smashed a three-run homer, giving the team a 4-2 lead.

Not surprisingly, the Cardinals found a way to battle back. Tony Cruz doubled in a run in the sixth inning, lowering the team's deficit to just one run. With men on second and third, Brandon Moss lined a single into right. Jhonny Peralta scored, tying the game, but Jorge Soler nailed Cruz at the plate to end the inning.

The game didn't stay tied for long. Anthony Rizzo belted a solo shot in the bottom of the inning, giving the Cubs the lead. The following inning, Kyle Schwarber added a solo shot of his own. Schwarber's blast was hit so hard that it traveled over the right-field videoboard as it left the park.

The Cubs bullpen was able to shut down St. Louis over the next two innings, securing the victory.

(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

• Rizzo may have extended the Cubs season Tuesday. After the Cubs coughed up a two-run lead in the top of the sixth inning, Rizzo took it upon himself to get it back. In the bottom of the frame, he smacked a solo home run on an 0-2 pitch from Kevin Siegrist, putting the Cubs on top. Rizzo finished 2-for-3, with one run scored and one RBI.

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• Javier Baez wasn't supposed to start many playoff games, but Addison Russell's injury forced him into the lineup. It was a good thing for the Cubs. Baez put the team ahead early with a three-run blast in the second. He would also add a single in the seventh inning. Baez finished the contest 2-for-3, with one run scored and three RBIs.

• Kyle Schwarber's gigantic home run in the seventh inning will be talked about for years. It was most likely one of the hardest hit balls ever at Wrigley Field. Everyone will talk about and remember the home run, but Schwarber also singled earlier in the game.

• John Lackey had a rough go of things during his start. While he looked strong in the first inning, the Cubs got to him in the second. With two outs, all Lackey needed to do was get past the opposing pitcher in order to end the inning. He couldn't get it done. After Hammel singled in a run, Baez hit his three-run homer. Lackey left the inning down by two runs, and had a few things to say as he walked off the mound. They weren't happy words.

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• Kevin Siegrist only threw one bad pitch, but it wound up being a huge one. He should have been able to put Rizzo away with a 0-2 count, but couldn't do it. Rizzo smacked an 80 mph curve off Siegrist to give the Cubs the go-ahead run.

• Trevor Cahill was called upon to shut down a potential rally in the sixth, but couldn't get the job done either. With Jason Heyward already on first, Cahill gave up a single and an RBI double to cut the Cardinals deficit to just one run. With men on second and third, he gave up a run-scoring single, allowing the Cardinals to tie the game. Cahill may have even taken the loss if not for a great throw from Jorge Soler. Soler nabbed Tony Cruz at the plate, ending the inning. Cahill was eventually bailed out, but it was a bad outing.

You could easily argue Rizzo's home run here, but Brandon Moss' sixth inning single stands out as an even bigger moment in the contest. Moss managed to tie the game with the hit, but Soler was the real hero. His throw to nail Tony Cruz at the plate prevented the Cardinals from taking the lead. Without Soler's throw, Rizzo's go-ahead home run merely ties things up again.

This is pretty amazing!

Soler had reached base in all nine of his first postseason plate appearances until he struck out in the first inning.

(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

They'll be talking about the young Cubs hitters doing crazy things again. After hitting six home runs in Game 3, the Cubs youngsters struck again in Game 4. Rizzo, Schwarber and Baez did it this time, sending the Cubs to the NLCS.

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Both the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets are known for having fantastic starting pitching, so the Cubs hitters will remain a huge focus heading into the NLCS. If they can keep playing like this, the Cubs are going to be tough to beat.

The Cubs are heading to the NLCS. Say that out loud multiple times in case you don't believe it. Game 1 of the NLCS is slated for Saturday. It will air on TBS, though the game time has yet to be announced. The Cubs could opt to bring back Jake Arrieta for the contest, though the starters are currently listed as TBD. Chicago will play either the Mets or the Dodgers in the series.

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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik