SAN DIEGO (AP) — Starlin Castro and Matt Garza have been bright spots in an otherwise dismal season for the Chicago Cubs.

Castro had two singles to extend his NL-leading total to 206 hits and Garza won his 10th game as the Cubs beat the San Diego Padres 6-2 on Tuesday night in a matchup of 90-game losers. Alfonso Soriano hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the eighth inning.

Castro has 12 more hits than Matt Kemp of the Los Angeles Dodgers. On Wednesday, Castro will become the youngest player ever to lead the NL in hits in a season, at 21 years, 188 days. He’ll also become the third Cubs player in seven seasons to lead the NL in hits, joining Juan Pierre (2006) and Derrek Lee (2005).

Castro reached base for the 39th straight game, extending his career-high streak.

Garza, obtained in an offseason trade with Tampa Bay, finished 10-10 with a 3.32 ERA. He had been sick on Monday night and the Cubs sent him back to the hotel.

“Come hell or high water he was going to pitch,” manager Mike Quade said. “It was an excellent effort.”

Soriano homered off the base of the batter’s eye in straightaway center field against Chad Qualls (6-8), giving the Cubs a 4-2 lead. Aramis Ramirez, who homered in the fourth, reached on a leadoff walk before being replaced by Tony Campana, and Bryan LaHair walked with one out ahead of Soriano’s 26th homer.

“A normal human being would have hit that on the ground,” Qualls said. “Soriano hits it 420 feet.”

Garza tied his career high with his fourth straight win. He allowed two runs and five hits, struck out eight and walked two in seven innings.

“It is what it is. I had a chance at the end,” Garza said. “I’m happy the way it ended. I’m not happy we’re not playing in October, but I’m just going to take what I did and let it keep rolling into the offseason and get ready for next season.”

The loss clinched last place in the NL West for the Padres (70-91). They won 90 games in 2010, but took a face-plant this season after trading All-Star slugger Adrian Gonzalez to the Boston Red Sox in December.

Ramirez hit a drive to straightaway center leading off the fourth against rookie Anthony Bass, his 26th.

Chicago’s Blake DeWitt added a pinch-hit, two-run single in the ninth.

San Diego’s Kyle Blanks hit a two-run double in the second.

Bass, who started the season in Double-A, held the Cubs to one run and five hits in five innings.

“For the most part I was pleased,” Bass said. “I made a couple of mistakes that they hit hard.”

NOTES: Castro extended his hitting streak to 10 games, his fifth double-digit streak of the season. … The season ends Wednesday night when Cubs RHP Ryan Dempster (10-13, 4.53 ERA) faces LHP Wade LeBlanc (4-6, 4.83). Dempster is 3-1 with a 2.45 ERA and 36 strikeouts in his last four starts against San Diego. LeBlanc will be facing the Cubs for the first time. In a 2-0 win at Colorado in his last start, LeBlanc struck out a career-high 10, the most strikeouts by a Padres pitcher this season.

The San Diego Padres went from 90 wins to 91 losses, from a riveting pennant race to a ponderous season largely devoid of highlights.
Starlin Castro had two singles to extend his NL-leading total to 206 hits, Alfonso Soriano hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the eighth inning and the Chicago Cubs beat the Padres 6-2 on Tuesday night in a matchup of 90-game losers.
The loss clinched last place in the NL West for the Padres (70-91). They won 90 games in 2010, but took a face-plant this season after trading All-Star slugger Adrian Gonzalez to the Boston Red Sox in December.
“Expectations are high every year for every club, and we’re not excluded from that,” manager Bud Black said. “We had a good year last year. This year we didn’t. It’s disappointing because we felt as though we had a chance to contend with the rest of the clubs. We just didn’t play well enough to do that.”
Castro has 12 more hits than Matt Kemp of the Los Angeles Dodgers. On Wednesday, Castro will become the youngest player ever to lead the NL in hits in a season, at 21 years, 188 days. He’ll also become the third Cubs player in seven seasons to lead the NL in hits, joining Juan Pierre (2006) and Derrek Lee (2005).
Castro reached base for the 39th straight game, extending his career-high streak.
Soriano homered off the base of the batter’s eye in straightaway center field against Chad Qualls (6-8), giving the Cubs a 4-2 lead. Aramis Ramirez, who homered in the fourth, reached on a leadoff walk before being replaced by Tony Campana, and Bryan LaHair walked with one out ahead of Soriano’s 26th homer.
Ramirez hit a drive to straightaway center leading off the fourth against rookie Anthony Bass, his 26th.
Chicago’s Blake DeWitt added a pinch-hit, two-run single in the ninth.
Matt Garza (10-10) tied his career high with his fourth straight win. He allowed two runs and five hits, struck out eight and walked two in seven innings.
San Diego’s Kyle Blanks hit a two-run double in the second.
Bass, who started the season in Double-A, held the Cubs to one run and five hits in five innings.
“I liked the way he mixed his pitches,” Black said of Bass, who will have a chance to earn a spot in the rotation next season. “We’re seeing improvement in the fastball command. We’re seeing more confidence in the slider and changeup for strikes. We’re seeing a guy with more poise and composure on the mound. A guy who to me, looks like he belongs.”
NOTES: Castro extended his hitting streak to 10 games, his fifth double-digit streak of the season. … The season ends Wednesday night when Cubs RHP Ryan Dempster (10-13, 4.53 ERA) faces LHP Wade LeBlanc (4-6, 4.83). Dempster is 3-1 with a 2.45 ERA and 36 strikeouts in his last four starts against San Diego. LeBlanc will be facing the Cubs for the first time. In a 2-0 win at Colorado in his last start, LeBlanc struck out a career-high 10, the most strikeouts by a Padres pitcher this season.

The St. Louis Cardinals’ improbable run toward the National League Wildcard took another big step backward Friday night as the Chicago Cubs scored four runs in the final two innings to win 5-1 at Busch Stadium.

The Cards’ loss, coupled with Atlanta’s 7-4 win over Washington, pushed the Cardinals three games behind Atlanta in the wildcard race with five to play.  It also means Milwaukee, with its 4-1 win over Florida, has clinched its first National League Central Division crown and its first division championship since 1982 (when the Brewers played in the American League).

The Redbirds jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 2nd when starting pitcher Chris Carpenter laid down a bunt on a suicide squeeze play, scoring Skip Schumaker from third. It was the first time St. Louis squeezed home a runner at Busch Stadium since the final weekend of the 2010 season.

The Cubs tied the game 1-1 in the top of the 6th on Carlos Pena’s RBI double. It was the only run Carpenter gave up. The Cards’ starter also allowed five hits in seven innings, striking out five while allowing two walks.

In the 8th, Chicago’s Darwin Barney started the inning with a triple off reliever Kyle McClellan (12-7). After Bryan LaHair grounded out to Albert Pujols, Carlos Pena was walked intentionally, setting the stage for the shot that silenced the crowd of just over 40,000. Alfonso Soriano belted a three run homer over the left field wall, giving his team a 4-1 lead.

The Cubs added another run in the 9th off reliever Mitchell Boggs. Starlin Castro singled in Tony Campana, making the score 5-1.

Jeff Samardzija (8-4) pitched one scoreless inning in relief of Cubs’ starter Ryan Dempster to earn the win.

The Cardinals continue their final home series of 2011 Saturday afternoon, with first pitch at 12:10 against the Cubs. Kyle Lohse (14-8) will pitch for St. Louis against Chicago’s Rodrigo Lopez (6-6).

Game Notes:

The Cardinals grounded into three double plays Friday night, giving them 165 for the year. The next twin killing the Cards hit into will tie the National League record of 166, set by the 1958 Cardinals.

Friday’s announced attendance of 40,335 put the Cardinals over three million fans for the eighth consecutive season and the 15th time in club history.

CHICAGO — Cubs manager Mike Quade thinks the Milwaukee Brewers have put together a terrific season. He just wants them to find another spot for their big party.

Geovany Soto hit a pair of two-run homers and a run-scoring single, leading Chicago to a 5-2 victory over the Brewers on Monday night.

Milwaukee’s loss and St. Louis’ win over Philadelphia kept the Brewers’ magic number for clinching the NL Central at four. They are looking for their first division title in 29 years.

While praising Milwaukee’s strong season, Quade said, “I would like to see them not finish it here. Tonight was a good start.”

Now, the earliest the Brewers can clinch is Wednesday, which is the end of a three-game set at Wrigley Field.

“You’re still just trying to take it game by game,” Brewers starter Chris Narveson said. “Magic numbers don’t mean anything until you clinch.”

With Milwaukee’s loss, the NL East champion Phillies clinched home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

“It’s just a game,” Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy said. “We got beat today. Hopefully we can come tomorrow and get a win.”

The Cubs snapped a six-game losing streak to the Brewers.

Soto connected against Narveson (10-8) in the third and Marco Estrada in the sixth. He also singled in Marlon Byrd in the fourth.

Soto has three career multihomer games, each coming against the Brewers.

“I heard about that, but I think it’s maybe because we play against them so much,” he said. “I got a lot of opportunities against the division. Like I said, I was just trying to be consistent and put together good at-bats.”

Cubs starter Casey Coleman (3-8) had a career-high eight strikeouts in six inning, yielding one run and two hits. The right-hander was 0-5 with a 7.98 ERA in his previous 10 appearances.

“It’s been a learning year for me, have a good outing and I would get too comfortable sometimes and the next outing three innings and you’re out of the game,” Coleman said, “so tonight I was taking it inning by inning, out by out, and they played good defense behind me and that’s the way it’s got to be.”

Jeff Samardzija and Sean Marshall combined for two scoreless innings before the Cubs went to closer Carlos Marmol for the ninth.

Marmol provided some drama by giving up a solo homer to Casey McGehee and allowing consecutive singles to Mark Kotsay and Lucroy. With runners on first and second and one out, Marmol struck out Taylor Green and Corey Hart to end the game.

Narveson was pulled for a pinch hitter in the fifth inning. He allowed three runs, two earned, and four hits.

Despite sweeping Cincinnati over the weekend, the Brewers have lost seven of their last 12 games.

Jerry Hairston Jr. went deep in the third for his first homer since joining the Brewers on July 30.

The Cubs responded in the bottom half. Carlos Pena led off with a walk and Soto cleared the bleachers in left field for his 16th homer.

It was Narveson’s first start since allowing six runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings during a 7-2 loss to Philadelphia on Sept. 8.

NOTES: Cubs RHP Randy Wells is Tuesday’s scheduled starter. He is 5-0 with a 3.57 ERA in his last nine starts. … RHP Shaun Marcum is scheduled to start for the Brewers on Tuesday. In his last two starts, Marcum allowed 10 earned runs in 11 2-3 innings. … The Cubs called up C Steve Clevenger and RHP Rafael Dolis from Double-A Tennessee. … Cubs SS Starlin Castro has reached base in 32 straight games.

Milwaukee’s loss and St. Louis’ win over Philadelphia kept the Brewers’ magic number for clinching the NL Central at four. They are looking for their first division title in 29 years.

While praising Milwaukee’s strong season, Quade said, “I would like to see them not finish it here. Tonight was a good start.”

Now, the earliest the Brewers can clinch is Wednesday, which is the end of a three-game set at Wrigley Field.

“You’re still just trying to take it game by game,” Brewers starter Chris Narveson said. “Magic numbers don’t mean anything until you clinch.”

With Milwaukee’s loss, the NL East champion Phillies clinched home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

“It’s just a game,” Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy said. “We got beat today. Hopefully we can come tomorrow and get a win.”

The Cubs snapped a six-game losing streak to the Brewers.

Soto connected against Narveson (10-8) in the third and Marco Estrada in the sixth. He also singled in Marlon Byrd in the fourth.

Soto has three career multihomer games, each coming against the Brewers.

“I heard about that, but I think it’s maybe because we play against them so much,” he said. “I got a lot of opportunities against the division. Like I said, I was just trying to be consistent and put together good at-bats.”

Cubs starter Casey Coleman (3-8) had a career-high eight strikeouts in six inning, yielding one run and two hits. The right-hander was 0-5 with a 7.98 ERA in his previous 10 appearances.

“It’s been a learning year for me, have a good outing and I would get too comfortable sometimes and the next outing three innings and you’re out of the game,” Coleman said, “so tonight I was taking it inning by inning, out by out, and they played good defense behind me and that’s the way it’s got to be.”

Jeff Samardzija and Sean Marshall combined for two scoreless innings before the Cubs went to closer Carlos Marmol for the ninth.

Marmol provided some drama by giving up a solo homer to Casey McGehee and allowing consecutive singles to Mark Kotsay and Lucroy. With runners on first and second and one out, Marmol struck out Taylor Green and Corey Hart to end the game.

Narveson was pulled for a pinch hitter in the fifth inning. He allowed three runs, two earned, and four hits.

Despite sweeping Cincinnati over the weekend, the Brewers have lost seven of their last 12 games.

Jerry Hairston Jr. went deep in the third for his first homer since joining the Brewers on July 30.

The Cubs responded in the bottom half. Carlos Pena led off with a walk and Soto cleared the bleachers in left field for his 16th homer.

It was Narveson’s first start since allowing six runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings during a 7-2 loss to Philadelphia on Sept. 8.

NOTES: Cubs RHP Randy Wells is Tuesday’s scheduled starter. He is 5-0 with a 3.57 ERA in his last nine starts. … RHP Shaun Marcum is scheduled to start for the Brewers on Tuesday. In his last two starts, Marcum allowed 10 earned runs in 11 2-3 innings. … The Cubs called up C Steve Clevenger and RHP Rafael Dolis from Double-A Tennessee. … Cubs SS Starlin Castro has reached base in 32 straight games.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

CHICAGO, Sept. 16 (UPI) — Marlon Byrd’s infield single drove in Starlin Castro with one out in the 11th inning Friday, giving the Chicago Cubs a 4-3 win over the Houston Astros.

Carlos Lee’s second home run in the game, a two-run shot with two outs in the ninth, erased a 3-1 Chicago lead and forced extra innings.

With Davis Carpenter (0-3) pitching, Castro walked to open the 12th and advanced on a sacrifice bunt. After Aramis Ramirez was intentionally walked, both runners moved up on a wild pitch, leading to an intentional walk to Reed Johnson to load the bases.

Byrd hit a high chopper down the third-base line that third baseman Chris Johnson just touched, allowing Castro to score the winning run.

Jeff Samardzija (7-4) earned the win with an inning of one-hit relief.

Lee had a second-inning home run but it was his ninth-inning shot — his 18th of the year — that ruined a strong outing by Cubs starter Matt Garza, who took a three-hitter into the ninth.

A home run by Geovany Soto tied the score at 1-1 in the third and Chicago went up 3-1 in the sixth when Jeff Baker singled in Aramis Ramirez, who had tripled, and then score on Alfonso Soriano’s base hit.