CINCINNATI — Sweet Lou likes the taste of this one.

The comeback. The champagne. The whole thing.

Lou Piniella saw it all during his first season managing the Chicago Cubs. He saw why long-suffering fans have come to expect the worst — their team lost on the field, fought in the dugout, fell out of contention early.

Squinting through champagne-stung eyes on Friday night, Piniella saw nothing but promise.

The Cubs clinched a most unexpected NL Central title on Friday by beating the Cincinnati Reds 6-0, then uncorked 30 bottles of fine California champagne and sprayed it on everything in sight.

Suitably soaked, Piniella headed for the refuge of the manager's office with a bottle in hand and a broad smile on his dripping face.

"One of the sweetest," said the 64-year-old Piniella, headed to the playoffs with his third team as manager. "We got off to a poor start, and it was an uphill battle. It's exhausting, tiring, draining and as rewarding as heck when you get it done.

"When we got off the way we did, a lot of people said this is not Chicago's year."

Why should they? It hasn't been the Cubs' year since 1908, when they won the World Series under manager Frank Chance. Piniella, who replaced Dusty Baker after the Cubs finished last in 2006, now has a chance to guide them to the World Series for the first time since 1945.

Cubs fans remember 1945 — the year that a bar owner supposedly put a curse on the team for preventing his goat from attending a World Series game.

Given all they've overcome, these Cubs feel karma's on their side.

"We're as good as anybody going into the playoffs," closer Ryan Dempster said. "We've played as good as anybody. Since the All-Star break, we've been playing great."

Red Sox 5, Twins 2

BOSTON — Simply making the playoffs is special. Winning the division, now that's something the Red Sox can really celebrate.

They did just that — dousing general manager Theo Epstein with champagne, dancing on the field and singing along to "Don't Stop Believin' " playing on the sound system — after clinching the AL East title for the first time in 12 years.

They did it when the New York Yankees lost in Baltimore more than an hour after Boston beat the Minnesota Twins 5-2 Friday night behind Daisuke Matsuzaka's best performance in more than six weeks.

"It's as good as it gets," team owner John Henry said while holding a victory cigar. "To win the division, that's what you want to do."

The Red Sox finished second to the Yankees for eight straight seasons from 1998 through 2005. They gained five wild-card berths in that stretch, including 2004 when they went on to win their first World Series since 1918.

"We've won wild cards," reliever Mike Timlin said. "It means a lot" to take the division.

The Red Sox have led the AL East since April 18. But their season-high lead of 12 games on July 5 had dwindled to 1Z\x on Sept. 19 after their fourth straight loss.

But they persevered and with their win, New York's loss and Cleveland's 5-3 victory over Kansas City, the AL playoff pairings were set: The Los Angeles Angels will open at Boston, and the wild-card Yankees will start at Cleveland.

D'Backs 4, Rockies 2

DENVER — The party was already in full swing when Chris Young arrived fashionably late.

"Save some for me," the Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder screamed as he grabbed a bottle of champagne and ran into the clubhouse, spraying any teammate in sight.

He didn't have to worry. This celebration wasn't going anywhere. The Diamondbacks clinched their first postseason appearance since 2002 with a 4-2 win over the Colorado Rockies Friday night. Arizona's win also snapped the Rockies' 11-game win streak and put a crimp in Colorado's postseason plans.

No one was safe from the spray of champagne or suds from the Coors Light cans — least of all ace Brandon Webb, who was drenched from head to toe in bubbly.

Not that Webb minded.

"This is the best feeling I've had in baseball — by far," said Webb, who went seven innings, allowing eight hits and two runs. "I've never had this experience."

And while clinching a spot was nice, an NL West Division crown would be even more rewarding. Arizona remains a game ahead of San Diego after the Padres' 6-3 win over Milwaukee on Friday night.

"There is a lot of work to do," outfielder Eric Byrnes said.

Just not right now. The music was blaring as the Diamondbacks players bounced around, high-fiving, hugging and pouring out anything they could get their hands on, including buckets of ice used to chill the champagne.