 The two fireballers and their mates managed to beat out the charging Astros, clinching the division on September 27 against Pittsburgh, just as they had in 1984.The team charged into the playoffs, knocking off Greg Maddux and Atlanta in 5 games in the NLDS, the club's first post-season series win since 1908, and moved on to face Lowell and the eventual champion Florida Marlins in the NLCS.After dropping game one, the Cubs proceeded to take a 3 games to 1 lead and it appeared the North Siders would reach the World Series at last.