The Associated Press

CHICAGO - The taste of victory was so sweet, Sammy Sosa wanted to share it with his loyal followers in the right-field bleachers.

So, he sprayed them with celebratory champagne.

Many of his Chicago Cubs teammates jogged around the perimeter of the outfield, followed by manager Dusty Baker, saluting the fans and soaking up the delirious atmosphere at Wrigley Field.

"It's beautiful," Sosa said after his 40th homer helped the Cubs sweep a doubleheader from the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2 and 7-2 Saturday and win the NL Central.

Sosa's 450-foot blast in the first inning off Ryan Vogelsong made him the first NL player to reach 40 homers in six straight seasons.

The Cubs are in the playoffs for the first time since 1998, when they were a wild card. They'll meet Atlanta in the first round.

In November, Baker took over a team that was coming off a 67-95 season and had a losing tradition.

"I just said, 'Why not us?' " Baker said. "This is only the first step in a four-step process. We've got three steps to climb, and this club is willing and ready."

Sosa homered in the first and Matt Clement pitched 7 2/3 strong innings as the Cubs earned their first division championship since Don Zimmer led them to the NL East crown in 1989.

In the opener, Mark Prior pitched 6 2/3 impressive innings and Damian Miller homered to spark a 4-2 victory.

Fans stayed in the park more than an hour after the game ended as players celebrated on the field.

"They have been supporting us the whole year," Sosa said. "This is the year."

Brewers 5, Astros 2

HOUSTON - Scott Podsednik had three hits and three runs as Milwaukee beat Houston for the second straight day.

Cardinals 3, Diamondbacks 2

PHOENIX - St. Louis' Eduardo Perez homered and Edgar Renteria became the first NL shortstop in 18 years to drive in 100 runs. Montreal's Hubie Brooks also reached 100 RBI, in 1985.

Phillies 7, Braves 6, 10 innings

PHILADELPHIA - Jim Thome hit two homers to take the league lead with 47 and scored the winning run in the 10th inning for Philadelphia.

Javy Lopez's 42nd home run set the season record for catchers, and Julio Franco and Gary Sheffield also went deep for Atlanta.

Mets 9, Marlins 3

MIAMI - Florida, using a lineup of reserves, made three miscues - one in each of the first three innings - and saw its five-game winning streak end. Joe McEwing hit a go-ahead single in a seven-run seventh inning for New York.

Dodgers 5, Giants 0, 1st game

SAN FRANCISCO - Rookie Edwin Jackson pitched six scoreless innings, working around eight walks, to lead Los Angeles.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

TORONTO - Roy Halladay became the only 22-game winner in the major leagues as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Cleveland Indians 5-4 Saturday.

Halladay (22-7) set a team record for wins, surpassing the mark set by Roger Clemens and Jack Morris.

"This was pretty special to me," said the normally reserved Halladay, who pumped his fist after the last out. "Sometimes you don't put an emphasis on numbers, but when you get a chance, and things come together, it's just an unbelievable feeling."

The 26-year-old right-hander, a leading contender for the AL Cy Young Award, allowed four runs on eight hits, struck out nine and walked one. His ninth complete game tied Mark Mulder for the most in the majors.

"Every guy that reaches first base tells me that he's the nastiest guy they've faced," Toronto first baseman Carlos Delgado said of Halladay.

Yankees 6, Orioles 2

NEW YORK - Roger Clemens walked off a winner in the final regular-season start of his career.

The Rocket (17-9) earned his 310th victory and Juan Rivera homered twice for the Yankees, who reached 100 wins for the second straight year and the 17th time in their history.

Tigers 9, Twins 8

DETROIT - Detroit rallied from eight runs down, and Alex Sanchez scored on a wild pitch as the Tigers avoided matching the modern major-league record of 120 losses set by the 1962 Mets.

Devil Rays 5, Red Sox 4

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Dave McCarty's fly ball to left field wound up in the stands in the ninth inning for Boston, but he was called out due to fan interference.

Aubrey Huff tied Tampa Bay's RBI record and Travis Lee homered for the Devil Rays.

Rangers 12, Angels 3

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Rafael Palmeiro drove in four runs and Gerald Laird hit his first major-league home run for Texas.

Mariners 7, Athletics 4

SEATTLE - Ichiro Suzuki hit a tiebreaking single and Rey Sanchez had a two-run double as Seattle rallied with a three-run sixth.

White Sox 19, Royals 3

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Carl Everett and Joe Crede each had four RBI for Chicago.