CHICAGO -- With sights still set on a grander end goal, the Cardinals nevertheless took a necessary step in that direction on Saturday by using Arizona's 6-0 win over the Giants to become the Majors' first team to reserve a place in the postseason. The Cardinals could have sealed their spot with a victory earlier in the day, but they dropped a 5-4 game to the Cubs.
Before last season's postseason appearance, the Cardinals had never had a run of four consecutive years with a playoff berth. Now, they've extended it to five. For manager Mike Matheny, he stands as the only manager in baseball history to lead his club to the postseason in his first full four seasons.