CHICAGO — Kyle Schwarber is a rookie.
Kyle Schwarber is Babe Ruth.
MORE: Top NLDS photos | Five takeaways from the Cubs' clinching win
If you watched Game 4 of the NLDS, you'd probably be more likely to believe the second statement to be true. Cubs slugger Schwarber absolutely crushed a fastball from Cardinals reliever Kevin Siegrist in the seventh inning, a jaw-dropping display of power that landed on top of the scoreboard in right field.
Ball might be on Lake Shore. Checking.
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) October 13, 2015 Just as the Bambino did 83 years earlier at Wrigley, Schwarber "called" his shot.
The fans at Wrigley Field waited a moment to celebrate because, it seems, they had to make sure they saw what they thought they saw.
Schwarber's homer only went 419 feet because it crashed into a building and is now part of that building.
— Marc Normandin (@Marc_Normandin) October 13, 2015 MORE: Blast leaves Cusack staggered
The North Side fans haven't stopped celebrating, and with good reason. They just saw their team clinch a postseason series at home for the first time, advance to the NLCS for the first time in 12 years, and knock out their bitter archrival. Tuesday's power-packed 6-4 victory ensured all that.
Schwarber's homer was the Cubs' third of the night and their 12th of the postseason. Javier Baez (against Cards starter John Lackey) and Anthony Rizzo (off Siegrist) had gone deep earlier.
If Schwarber was the star Tuesday, then Chicago's bullpen was a strong supporting actor. Seven relievers combined to get the final 18 outs after starter Jason Hammel was pulled one batter into the fourth inning. Hector Rondon worked a scoreless ninth for the save, punctutated by a game-ending strikeout of Stephen Piscotty that set off a joyous celebration near the mound and throughout the ballpark.
Sporting News Media's Tom Gatto contributed to this report.