The Cardinals clinched the NL Central in their last game of the regular season, using Jack Flaherty's arm and Paul Goldschmidt's bat Sunday to win their first division title since 2015 with a 9-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

The 23-year-old Flaherty tossed seven impressive innings. He gave up two hits, stuck and six and walked one in an efficient 69-pitch stint.

Flaherty (11-8) stood in the on-deck circle waiting to hit in the bottom of the seventh. After Harrison Bader was retired, Shildt called Flaherty back to the dugout to remove him for a pinch-hitter.

Flaherty has allowed just seven runs over his last 12 starts. He has an 0.91 ERA after the all-star break.

St. Louis scored twice in each of the first of two innings against Derek Holland (2-5). Goldschmidt singled after Holland walked the first two batters.

Fowler added a two-run homer in the second for a 4-0 lead. He has a career-high 19 home runs.

Carpenter's drive in the third off Duane Underwood Jr. pumped the lead to 8-0. Goldschmidt added his team-high 34th homer in the fourth.

Chicago infielder Ben Zobrist pitched a scoreless eighth for the Cubs, striking a swinging Yadier Molina to end the inning.